The vast majority of businesses I speak to are grossly unhappy with their b/band speeds and have invested as hard as they can only to be told by suppliers that ‘it’s as good as it gets.’ I know that’s down to a plethora of factors but I’d argue that it’s stifling growth just when we need it most.

Big business has the money to invest in leased lines, and in many cases already is.

Smaller businesses are becoming increasingly aware of the requirement to invest in dedicated facilities such as GSM/3G failover, and are investing accordingly.

Consumers in areas close to exchanges are often getting a decent level of service (although the marketed 24Mbps is usually only available if your address happens to start ‘BT Exchange, Acacia Avenue….’), with 3-4Mbps more than sufficient to support the likes of iPlayer and online gaming.

Strip these out of the equation, and the question becomes “Which areas do we need to target to ensure that people are genuinely getting >3Mbps?”. If you then target the investment – whether from business or from government – accordingly, the pill is an easier one to swallow. The current view seems to be that there’s a national problem that needs a national solution when there are so many people with a connection that supports their needs (and some).

For us people out in the sticks, at the frayed end of a bad broadband offering (0.256Mbps, anyone!?), that investment (wherever it may come from) can’t come soon enough….