MPs call for faster broadband in Lincolnshire

MPs have called for more investment in broadband infrastructure throughout Lincolnshire in order to boost connection speeds for local businesses.

The county has some of the slowest connections in the UK and firms in the region - 50 per cent of which rely on the web to operate - are losing business as a result, while the Lincolnshire Chamber of Commerce says county-wide investment is also being affected, reports the Lincolnshire Echo.

Speeds are around 30 per cent below what they should be, hindering basic tasks such as email and selling, while it could also mean companies have reduced usage of VoIP solutions.

Connection speeds vary across the UK and the government recently pledged to make sure every UK home has a service of at least two megabits per second (Mbps) by 2012.

Internet service providers such as BT and Virgin Media are also responding to calls for investment in next-generation broadband networks to deliver speeds far beyond the 2Mbps target, although the necessary fibre optic technology could be very expensive to roll-out in rural areas.