Council aims to put an end to ‘notspots’
16th May 2008
Basingstoke council has announced that it wants to hear from local residents and businesses that are unable to access broadband services.
The council estimates that around ten per cent of the regional population connected to BT exchanges is unable to get online via broadband.
Prominent areas with either intermittent or inexistent broadband connectivity included Kempshott and Chineham, which the council has dubbed internet ‘notspots’.
"In Basingstoke there are about 40,000 lines connected to the BT Exchange and some of these line users are unable to get broadband or have a poor connection," Basingstoke and Deane council suggests.
To improve the situation the council is asking residents and businesses to check what kind of connection they have access to by entering their phone number and postcode on the Sam Knows Broadband website, which offers a nationwide picture of broadband infrastructure.
Once they have done this, they are urged to enter the information on the eHampshire website.
The online resource explains that broadband notspots are having an adverse effect on the region’s knowledge-based economy.
Member of the Internet Services Providers' Association
Member of the Broadband Stakeholder Group