What do you use your mobile phone for mostly for these days? Chances are that you now use your phone for browsing and social media more than you do for calls. The ability to communicate quickly and reliably is, what I consider, a vital tool in how we all go about our lives today. That is why I am constantly pressing the networks and broadband providers hard for continuous improvements in 3G and 4G mobile reception and high speed broadband in Barry and the Vale.
I have recently visited a number of mobile phone masts in the Vale that are now providing 4G to more residents. Network providers like Three are seeing a huge increase in demand for data usage. In the past six months alone demand for data from a typical smartphone user has risen by over 50%, and this astonishing rise from 3.3gb to 4.65gb in average monthly demand is expected to continue to grow enormously over the next few years.
There are a number of areas in the Vale that still require network infrastructure improvements, and when I met BT recently I gave them a list of areas that still require work to improve the broadband speed. I know from personal experience on a daily basis how maddening slow broadband speed and mobile phone reception is, and for residents it can be very frustrating.
I have been campaigning since my election in 2010 for improvements in broadband and mobile infrastructure, and continue to do so. Significant progress has been made, but there is still work to do. That is why I have invited representatives from BT to tour the Vale of Glamorgan next month so that I can personally highlight the areas that still require help to achieve usable broadband speeds.
For businesses a reliable and fast broadband speed is essential, I am pleased to see that in areas like Vale Business Park in Llandow can now receive speeds up to 80mb. However, with more and more people working from home, speeds to residential properties in our villages and towns are just as important. Not every property will benefit from the current technology, but I am hopeful that a combination of improved mobile 4G broadband reception and continued investment by broadband suppliers can ensure that Vale of Glamorgan residents and businesses can access emails and the web in as many places as possible.