Worcestershire County to benefit from broadband plans

The Worcestershire County Council wants to 90% of the business concerns in the county to have broadband speed of 24 Mbps by 2015. The households should have at least 2 Mbps download speed.

The cost of providing the necessary infrastructure may be around GBP 20 million of which the county council will invest GBP 8.5 million. Broadband Delivery UK will provide GBP 3.3 million. Various funds including  ‘The Department of Environment, Food and Rural Affairs’ (Defra) and other funds will offer about GBP 1 million. The balance will be provided by the private sector.

The main target will be to cater to the areas where the broadband service is totally absent or poor but where there is good scope for achieving economic growth. Cutnall Green, Wychbold, Ombersely etc are some such areas.

A scheme has been worked out to educate the residents about the vast use and benefits of internet. That will persuade them to make investments. Community groups, voluntary organizations, Parish councils etc can come forward for their contribution by providing the necessary equipment and computers for community halls schools and other places in the village and also offering computer education and training.

Coun Simon Geraghty, of the county council, stated that the entire investment is for the electronic infrastructure of the county. Worcestershire is a nice place to live. But it should be a great place to work as well. The county should be self-sufficient. The people of this place need not have to go to Birmingham or Oxfordshire for employment. The facilities of such places should be made available in Worcestershire as well.

There is no doubt that like water, power and telephone, broadband will be an essential utility for the people.  
   

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