After the many months of campaigning for better broadband for Barnet, Theresa Villiers MP has welcomed the news that the first of the gaps in fast broadband provision in High Barnet have now been filled. On 18th May, Cabinet 52 in Hadley Parade on Barnet High Street was connected up to fibre broadband, becoming operational for all homes and businesses in the surrounding area who want to sign up for superfast services. This was one of the list of problem cabinets identified by the Barnet Society as urgently needing a connection to superfast fibre broadband.
Theresa Villiers said: “This has been a long running campaign but it is starting to deliver results. I will keep working and exploring all options to see better broadband for Barnet. Virgin Media are currently in talks with the Council regarding potentially delivering fibre broadband in Barnet as part of their £3 billion upgrade programme, and I look forward to discussing this further with them.”
“I also welcome the announcement in the Queen’s Speech that a Digital Economy Bill will be introduced to give people a legal right to sign up to fast broadband. This shows how committed the Government is to delivering the top class digital infrastructure we need to compete in a global economy.”
Theresa has been pressing her colleagues in Government on the importance of getting more people connected to fast broadband. The Digital Economy Bill will introduce a new Broadband Universal Service Obligation will give people the legal right to have a fast broadband connection installed, with the initial speeds being 10Mbps. A new Electronic Communication Code will make it easier and less expensive to build superfast broadband infrastructure.