Amanda Milling MP has welcomed news that 98.2% of premises in Cannock Chase now benefit from superfast broadband (24 Mbps or faster), with 98% of properties having access to speeds in excess of 30 Mbps.
This has been delivered as part of the Government’s manifesto commitment to extending superfast broadband to 95% of UK premises by the end of 2017. Data released this week confirms this ambitious target has been met. More than 19 out of every 20 UK homes and businesses now have the opportunity to upgrade their internet connections to superfast speeds of 24 Mbps or faster. Cannock Chase has an access rate above the UK average of 95.0%.
Over the last five years, the Government’s rollout of superfast broadband has made superfast speeds a reality for more than 4.5 million homes and businesses who would otherwise have missed out. As well as delivering everyday benefits to families, such as easy access to information and convenient ways of staying in touch, better broadband also equips businesses with the digital infrastructure they need to expand and compete in today’s digital age.
Amanda Milling said: “Access to superfast broadband is great news for families and businesses in Cannock Chase. Because of the actions of this government almost every family and business in the UK can now get a quicker internet connection – meaning we can all use the internet faster and more easily, whether that means businesses reaching new customers, or parents doing the weekly shop. There is more to do, but each week we are reaching thousands more premises, and data released today underlines the important progress we have already made. By investing in the things that improve people’s day to day lives we will build a Britain that is fit for the future.“
The Cannock Chase MP has been campaigning hard to ensure all homes and businesses have access to superfast broadband connections, having received complaints from residents of new developments, such as Chasewater Grange in Norton Canes, that their new homes do not have superfast broadband connectivity. This is an issue that she has raised in Parliament and directly with Ministers.
“There is more to do to ensure that all homes and businesses have access to superfast broadband – we need to treat broadband connectivity as important as the other utilities – water, gas and electricity. Progress has been made to ensure all larger housing developments that are being built are connected to the superfast broadband network, but we need to ensure smaller developments and also those larger developments which were built before this connectivity commitment, are connected too.”