Letters to the editor: Slow broadband hurts the economy

 
Show of support: Greeks have backed their government as it tries to negotiate its debt with EU leaders (Picture: AFP/Getty)
18 February 2015
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Getting broadband in London quickly, especially point-to-point but even fibreoptic, is virtually impossible. It’s like we’re in the dark ages. The broadband providers are beyond a joke. BT, for example, can take a minimum of 90 days even when the building is already connected to its own cables.

The current system needs a radical shake-up. Landlords and councils are part of the problem too. Getting planning for point-to-point on the roof of a building is hard, and landlords can be very slow to react when it comes to allowing access to common parts to install fibreoptics.

The digital economy is driving huge growth in London and across the country. Having fast, affordable broadband, which allows us to compete with growing digital economies all over the world, is key to our continued success.
James Layfield, CEO, Central Working

Businesses in all sectors on the fringes of Tech City are struggling to innovate due to poor connectivity. The UK’s outdated regulatory telecoms framework is a root cause of this problem.

UK companies invest £16 billion a year in communication technologies. Yet, many are unable to tap into superfast broadband because there isn’t enough competition in the market.

To give businesses in London and elsewhere the high-speed connectivity they need we must see changes in the way the UK telecoms industry operates to enable more competition.

The regulator must enable connectivity providers to access the UK’s existing civil infrastructure in areas without sufficient competition. This will accelerate the roll-out of high-speed networks and support the growth of businesses in London and beyond. Failure to act will result in continued foot-dragging, leaving businesses unable to compete on both a national and global level.
Barney Lane, director of regulation, Colt

We now have superfast broadband in our office, but initially, the internet availability was very poor and we only had an 8Mb service — I could get 100Mb at home so this was galling. We had to resort to using external hard drives and couriers to move large files around the world.

We used a company called Venus and got free installation thanks to the infrastructure already in place in the building and the government’s connection voucher scheme.

We are now on a 100Mb line and we wouldn’t turn back. We can upload and download files at any time of the day with a smooth and consistent service, allowing us to work more efficiently.

There are network providers out there connecting businesses affordably. I would look for those registered with the Superconnected Cities scheme and tell them you need a symmetrical uncontended service.
Peter Taylor-Medhurst, managing director, Continuo Creative

Greece’s debt has got out of control

The situation in Greece is becoming desperate. The current programme, aimed at achieving swift repayment of creditors rather than restoring the Greek economy, has contributed to Greece’s debt burden rising to 175 per cent of GDP. Greece’s depression is longer and deeper than the US’s Great Depression: adult unemployment is 27 per cent and more than half of young people in Greece are out of work. The apparent growth recorded recently was simply a consequence of outright deflation. Greece is in a debt deflationary spiral: the more it pays, the more it owes. This is not sustainable.

Linking debt repayments to growth, as the new finance minister has proposed, would ensure creditors have a genuine interest in Greece’s recovery, rather than just recovering their money. And the harsh austerity measures need to be relaxed. Greece does need reforms but ruining lives and bankrupting businesses is not “reform”, it is wanton destruction.

There is too much emphasis in some quarters on guilt and reparations for past sins. As Europe knows all too well, reparations do more harm than good.
Frances Coppola

Britain’s Jews need more protection

It is no coincidence that the recent attacks in Paris and Copenhagen have targeted free speech and Jews. Free societies protect minorities and attacks on Jews are an attack on free societies.

The desire of terrorists to target Jewish communities has serious implications for the security of British Jews. Anti-Semitic attacks in the UK have doubled over the past year, now reaching the highest levels ever recorded.

Against this backdrop we need to see steps to protect the Jewish community and combat the resurgence of anti-Semitism.

We should accept the Inquiry into Anti-Semitism’s recommendation that the Government contribute funding for synagogue security. This would not only help reassure worshippers but would also dissuade those who would do them harm.
Andrew Dismore AM (Lab)

Make Tories pay if Boris steps down

Andrew Neather [“Could Boris’s rise and rise mean an early mayoral election?” Mon] has done Londoners a favour by highlighting the £18 million cost we would bear should the Mayor step down prematurely.

Should the desire of the Conservative Party to nurture his ambition cause him to cut short his time as Mayor, would we not be justified in requiring the party to foot the bill for the consequent by-election?
Rob McIvor

Putin makes a fool of Western power

As Western European nations look to reduce spending on defence, Vladimir Putin has been increasing spending by up to 30 per cent of GDP. He will continue to use military power to get what he wants because he knows the Western European nations will not stand up to him.

The existing sanctions are but pin-pricks on Russia’s economy and will all be withdrawn without any meaningful political or military retreat by Russia. The West’s inaction is shameful.
David Doe

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