Make the connection for Internet revolution

8:50am Saturday 6th February 2010

By David Connop Price

LET’S Get Connected – that’s the message of a Gazette campaign as we launch a drive to get more residents and businesses plugged in to super-fast broadband.

BT has been laying fibre-optic cables to allow residents connected to 77 of 171 telephone cabinets in the borough to make use of much faster Internet download and upload speeds.

The bad news is that many people are missing out – and they could potentially face a wait of many years to get hooked up unless something changes.

And that’s where our Let’s Get Connected campaign is aiming to help make a difference.

BT is spending £1.5billion rolling out super-fast broadband to 40 per cent of UK homes by 2012, but it wants to see a return on its investment before it considers extending that further.

Both the Labour Government and the Conservative Opposition have indicated they want the majority of the country to be connected by 2017, but they accept it will take some form of public funding to achieve this.

But those pushing for greater provision of super-fast broadband in Basingstoke and Deane believe that if demand for the service can be demonstrated, BT, or another provider, will see the business case in extending provision in the borough sooner rather than later.

So The Gazette is now urging our readers who are missing out to make themselves heard by saying: “Let’s Get Connected.”

You can check whether you will be able to access the new super-fast broadband by using the online postcode checker at ehampshire.org/c-304, and you can then register your interest in it. We will keep you updated on how the campaign for action is growing across our area.

Our campaign aims:
· Push for internet service providers to extend super-fast broadband to parts of Basingstoke and Deane where the demand for the service can be demonstrated
· Encourage fibre-optic cabling to be made a planning condition for all major new housing and business developments
· Highlight the benefits of this next generation of internet technology
· Shine a spotlight on the problems faced by those who need super-fast broadband, but cannot access it
· Promote the efforts of others campaigning on the same issue.

You can also email The Gazette to let us know why super-fast broadband would benefit you or your business. The more case studies we can feature, the better case we can make for action, and for getting connected.

You can email your contact details and comments to broadband @basingstoke gazette.co.uk or contact reporters David Connop Price or Emily Roberts on david.connopprice @basingstoke gazette.co.uk or emily. roberts @basingstoke gazette.co.uk