Rural anger over poor broadband

Rural anger over poor broadband

30 July 2014

FED-up residents in rural areas are becoming increasingly frustrated at poor access to broadband provision.

Criticism has been slowly mounting across Down District for some time with farmers and rural residents feeling they are getting a raw deal when it comes to broadband access.

Tom McCann, who lives at the Drumkeeragh Road between Ballynahinch and Dromara, said while he pays the same for his telephone and broadband services as people in major towns and villages, he’s receiving an “infinitely poorer service.”

Mr. McCann said the broadband service he receives is so poor and unreliable that it forced his daughter to spend time with an aunt in Downpatrick to complete her final year university course.

Describing his broadband service as “extremely unreliable,” he explained some weeks the service can be accessed for several hours, while on other occasions there is no internet connection for several days.

Mr. McCann said he has no doubt the poor broadband services in the Slieve Croob area is impacting on residents and on farming and business communities.

“We simply cannot depend upon a reliable broadband connection which is very frustrating. I understand that money has been set aside by the government to improve internet access for people living in rural areas and would certainly like to see some of the cash invested in this part of the world,” he continued.

“Ballynahinch is just a few miles from my home yet there is a major difference between the broadband connection people there can access compared to what is available to me.”

Mr. McCann said his neighbours share his frustration and especially as some of the telephone lines servicing homes in the Drumkeeragh area have been in place for up to 60 years.

“Maybe this is part of the problem, I don’t know. Investment is needed to upgrade the telecommunications infrastructure in this rural area. As we pay the same for our telephone and broadband services as those in major towns, it’s only fair that we are entitled to the same service,” he declared.

Mr. McCann suggested that it’s quite ironic that following the closure of the Driver and Vehicle Agency’s motor tax office in Downpatrick, people are being encouraged to tax their vehicles on-line. He said that’s okay in theory, but asked what happens given the poor broadband service he and his neighbours are provided with?

He continued: “This is 2014 and I live just a few miles outside Ballynahinch, not the Outer Hebrides. Providing a suitable broadband service should not be a major problem given today’s technology.

“If the telecommunications infrastructure requires updating to allow people like me to access the internet then the money to allow that to happen must be made available. I’m no expert, but surely there must be an easy solution to the problem we are experiencing? People in rural areas are not second class citizens.”

Mr. McCann, who has contacted councillor Patrick Clarke for help, said he hopes the new Newry, Mourne and Down Council will make broadband access for people living in rural areas one of its top priorities.

He added: “We are not looking for super fast broadband speeds. All we simply require is a reliable service that’s available 24/7 to allow us to use the internet like thousands of other people across the district.”

Councillor Clarke has raised the lack of access to broadband availability in the Castlewellan area with Stormont Enterprise Minister Arlene Foster and asked her to speed up the roll out of improved broadband access in rural areas.

He added: “Access to high speed broadband creates opportunities for people to access services and can lead to increased economic activity, particularly for small businesses in rural areas that are keen to expand.”