Fast, reliable broadband for local homes and businesses is not a luxury, it is essential. It is a necessity for our ever-growing businesses and for those in isolated villages to remain connected. Poor broadband has been an issue that has plagued West Oxfordshire for many years, with disparate levels of service across our area.
I have campaigned ceaselessly on this issue, raising it repeatedly with the Digital Minister. I am therefore delighted to welcome the announcement that West Oxfordshire District Council, in partnership with the Department for Culture, Media & Sport, will be able to connect more than 4,600 homes and businesses to ultrafast full fibre broadband by the end of this year right across West Oxfordshire - showing just what a strong local team can achieve.
We’ve made some real progress on this issue, but we must keep up the pressure on BT, Broadband Delivery UK and all levels of government to secure full superfast broadband across West Oxfordshire. That means continuing the roll-out of high speed broadband for all homes, including those in hard-to-reach rural areas.
