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Business group laments slow Buckinghamshire broadband
Businesses in Buckinghamshire are being held back by slow broadband speeds.
Research commissioned by the Bucks Rural Affairs Group revealed that almost a quarter of micro-businesses and small market enterprises across the county feel they are being held back by their broadband connection.
Two in five respondents stated they would be keen to take advantage of next-generation broadband services, while two-thirds expressed their belief that broadband is imperative to their ongoing success.
Speaking to the Bucks Herald, chairman of BBF Alex Pratt claimed the county is lagging behind many other parts of the UK with regards to super-fast broadband provision.
Consequently, he claimed many local residents and businesses will have felt frustrated after hearing about BT's plans to dramatically increase its maximum broadband speeds.
The telecoms giant is set to roll out up to 110Mbps fibre-to-the-home broadband before the end of the month, with the service due to be upgraded to 300Mbps speeds early next year.
BT's fibre-to-the-cabinet product will also be improved, with maximum download rates set to double from 40Mbps to 80Mbps.
"Of course, this is great news for those that already have access to the fibre optic technology, but for those rural pockets that currently rely on slow broadband or dial-up access, it must feel like while everyone else is powering along the internet superhighway, they are stuck in the 30mph zone, with no hope of ever getting in the fast lane," Mr Pratt said.
Despite his complaints, research published by Ofcom earlier this year showed Buckinghamshire actually measures up well with the rest of the UK in terms of super-fast broadband access.
The telecoms industry watchdog found 67 per cent of households in the county could receive super-fast connectivity, compared with 61 per cent across England and 58 per cent throughout the whole of the UK.