What do you consider to be essential household utilities? Water, electricity and gas for sure, but in 2016 I would be very surprised if your list didn’t include broadband.
A fast internet connection has become vital in modern life, not only for conveniences and entertainment, but for dealing with governmental agencies and commercial services. I am determined that everyone in the Vale of Glamorgan should have access to decent broadband and that those in rural communities should not be left behind.
I have a keen appreciation of the challenges and frustrations that a slow internet connection can cause. The community in which I live, suffers from extremely slow internet speeds. Netflix and iPlayer are taken for granted by many, but to me and to a not insignificant number of rural Vale residents, they are seen as an almost unobtainable luxury.
A more serious concern surrounding the lack of decent broadband is the difficulty posed to those running small businesses as, my wife does, and those working from home. It is precisely because slow internet slows down the rural economy, that correcting it is a national priority.
For a number of years I have campaigned and lobbied for faster internet here in the Vale of Glamorgan. There have been successes, communities such as Llandow and Colwinston, where internet users would spend much of their time watching ceaseless loading icons on webpages, now have some of the fastest internet in the county.
To take my broadband campaign forward, I recently arranged a meeting at which community councillors were invited to ask questions of BT executives.
BT’s programme of extending broadband, funded in large part by the UK and Welsh Governments, will have delivered superfast broadband to 96% of households in Wales by spring 2017. My concern, and that of the community councillors present, was for the 4% of households who will not be covered by that date.
BT explained the process of broadband rollout, and were able to tell us that many rural properties around Cowbridge as well as the villages of St Donat’s, Marcross and Monknash should have superfast access shortly after Christmas. Usefully, the Welsh Government is to launch a website in October which will let you know when you will have access.
Much progress has been made in the Vale, we have higher average broadband speeds than the USA, France or Germany. But let’s not stop until every community can fully take part in the 21st Century.