Fast access to the internet is a necessity for modern life, not just part of the entertainment industry. People rely on a good service for their work, and businesses large and small need it to stay in touch with their customers. Increasing numbers of government forms need to be filled in online and many companies encourage you to use the internet to contact them, pay bills and receive service support. One of the government’s most important initiatives over the last few years has been to invest in the roll out of the superfast broadband network. This has included using public money to connect properties that would not otherwise have been served by a purely commercial provider. Four million homes now have access to superfast broadband thanks to the Government programme, and the roll out of this service across the UK, has been one of the fastest delivered anywhere in the world. Nine out of ten homes in Britain now have access to superfast broadband, and by the end of 2017, this will have been extended to 95%.
In Kent, the Making Kent Quicker programme, has been administered by the County Council in partnership with BT Openreach, and with government funding through BDUK (Broadband Delivery UK). It has successfully provided superfast broadband (a speed of at least 24mbps) to more than 120,000 properties across the county so, when combined with commercial rollouts, at least 91% of premises across Kent should be able to access superfast broadband services. BT Openreach is also working to upgrade the cabinet boxes that supply properties in villages and rural areas with broadband, to improve the service they receive. You can use the Making Kent Quicker website, as well as contacting your service provider to find out more about broadband speeds where you live, and when there is likely to be further investment to improve this.
In November last year, the Prime Minister also announced that the government wanted to create a universal service obligation for superfast broadband, so that any property in the country that wanted this, would have the right to receive it at an affordable price. Last month the government launched a consultation to look at how this could best be delivered. I am also working on a parliamentary inquiry looking into this issue. This is the right approach, just as with the Royal Mail, we have to have a superfast broadband network that connects the whole country, including more isolated communities. We also have to ensure that there is enough capacity in towns and cities where demand is high.
Bill Hewson, the President of Folkestone Invicta Football Club celebrated his 95th birthday on Monday this week. I was pleased to be able to join him, and other friends and members of his family, for their celebration during the club’s home match against Carshalton Athletic, last Saturday. Bill first played football for Folkestone in 1936, when he was just 15 years old, and has been a great champion and ambassador both for his club, and for sport in general in Folkestone throughout his life. Many happy returns Bill.