Suffolk locals called upon to back fibre broadband campaign

Suffolk authorities are encouraging businesses and residents to show their support for a campaign to bring fibre broadband and superfast services to the region.

Less than a month remains for local people to complete surveys in support of the Better Broadband for Suffolk campaign, with Suffolk County Council leader Mark Bee targeting 100,000 responses by the deadline of March 31st 2012.

Thus far, 5,438 surveys have been received from individual households and 1,299 from local businesses, with any replies helping to demonstrate the level of demand for faster internet speeds in Suffolk and making the project more attractive to investors.

The council's plan will involve delivering fibre-to-the-premises and fibre-to-the-cabinet broadband to around 85 to 90 per cent of the populace by 2015, transforming services in a region that is currently affected by some of the UK's slowest connections.

Better broadband would help to bolster Suffolk's economy, promote business growth and avoid a digital divide opening up.

Mr Bee said: "We absolutely must demonstrate to ministers and potential suppliers that Suffolk is serious about superfast broadband."