Broadband in Kent by Michael Bax

This follows my note from 2009/10.

UK is as low as 25th in the world league table in terms of Broadband coverage.

33% of rural businesses and households have less than 2Mb capacity and nearly double that have less than 4Mb.

So far as Superfast Broadband is concerned, it will cost between £500M and £1.1Bn to get fibre to all property in the County and at this stage 40% of Kent’s businesses are in areas of market failure so far as this is concerned.

It is not only a question of what it will cost to get Kent properly enabled, it is also a question of the cost to the Kentish economy of NOT providing rural broadband.

In Cornwall, virtually the whole county is broadband enabled and this has been achieved using European money and County Council grant.

There have been some local initiatives in Kent, e.g. Womenswold where a satellite router has been installed, powered by small wind turbine and pv cells. This is pinging 8Mb round the village.

Please go to broadband@kent.gov.uk and return the questionnaire to support the County Councils efforts on this vital subject.