Superfast broadband "crucial" for businesses, says Chamber
Derbyshire and Nottinghamshire Chamber of Commerce has welcomed government plans to bring superfast broadband to every part of the UK by 2015. The Chamber described the plans as “a good starting point for business”.
Culture Secretary Jeremy Hunt unveiled the proposals to make the UK’s digital network the best in Europe with a £830m investment. Each UK community will have a “digital hub”, which will extend broadband into every business and home.
As part of the plans, ministers will invest £50m in a second wave of pilot projects to test how digital hubs can be extended to all communities, including those in remote rural areas.
George Cowcher, chief executive of the Derbyshire and Nottinghamshire Chamber of Commerce, said: “Universal high-speed broadband is a crucial piece of business infrastructure that the UK badly needs, so government’s ambition to create the best high-speed broadband network in Europe should be welcomed.
“That said, its target of getting everyone access to a broadband speed of two mbps by 2015 needs to be the minimum starting point for this aspiration, with utmost priority given to investing in technology which delivers significantly higher speeds wherever possible.
“It’s also important to ensure that when these plans are rolled out, they are targeted and phased in appropriately to minimise the risks of further digital exclusion in rural communities and areas of deprivation.”
