Bringing Superfast Broadband to Reading
The issue:
Superfast Broadband provides improved download and upload speeds, as well as providing a more reliable service. This will benefit individuals and helps businesses to be more efficient and better able to compete.
Achievements to date:
- Alok has lobbied Government Ministers, Thames Valley Berkshire Local Enterprise Partnership, Internet Service Providers, West Berkshire Council and Reading Borough Council to keep up pressure for investment in Superfast Broadband.
- Alok organised for the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport to visit local business Abbey Windows to discuss concerns about slow broadband speeds.
- Alok lobbied Reading Borough Council to perform a U-turn on its decision to reject Government funding for the “Super Connected Cities” programme, which provides grants of up to £3,000 for businesses who install Superfast Broadband.
- 41,377 homes in Reading West are now connected to a cabinet that can provide download speeds of at least 24Mb/second. According to Ofcom, the average download speed available in Reading West is now 29.1Mb/second.
Next steps:
Alok will continue to campaign for Superfast Broadband provision in Reading West.
Alok says:
“Superfast broadband is key to boosting economic growth, making the town more competitive and creating jobs. I am delighted that thanks to plans by the Conservatives in government, 97% of homes and businesses in my Reading West constituency will have access to download speeds of at least 24 Megabits per second by 2017.”