East Cambridgeshire District Council

Residents in East Cambridgeshire are being urged to back a bid to Government that would bring the latest super fast broadband to homes and businesses across the district – including the most rural areas.

Internet providers are already planning to lay new fibre optic cables in the more urban areas of Cambridgeshire over the next few years but this will still leave around a quarter of people in the county without access to high speed internet.

With basic broadband internet it can take over 3 hours to purchase and download the latest blockbuster movie, but the same task only takes 3 minutes with the quickest internet connection. The bid would open up access to super fast broadband to  residents and businesses in areas currently outside of the commercial providers plans.

East Cambridgeshire District Council, Huntingdonshire District Council, South Cambridgeshire District Council, Fenland District Council and Cambridgeshire County Council are joining forces to put forward the bid which if successful will make sure rural areas have the same access to high speed internet as people who live in busy towns and cities.

Councillor Ron Bradney, East Cambridgeshire District Council’s Member Champion for Economic Development, said: “The internet plays such a vital role for businesses based in East Cambridgeshire that improving the speed of services should encourage more businesses to the area and make life easier for those already based here. It is therefore vital that as a district, we get more than our fair share of this new technology or at least sufficient to meet our needs. I can't over emphasise the need as we have some important high tech companies that have to have this Next Generation Broadband in order to expand.

"I would encourage everyone who would like to have a faster internet connection in the district to register their details online as soon as possible so we can demonstrate there is demand for internet providers to deliver superfast broadband services across Cambridgeshire.”

If you would like to back the bid for improved internet access, visit the Eastern Region Broadband Uplift Scheme website and register your details at www.erebusonline.org.uk.

ENDS

Notes for editors:

For further information contact Tony Taylorson in the Communications Team on 01223 699285.