Improving digital connectivity in South West Hertfordshire is key to boosting our local economy, living standards of residents and the quality of education for children. Research by the Federation of Small Businesses found that 94% of small business owners rate a reliable broadband connection as critical to the success of their business.
Over 98% of premises in South West Hertfordshire can access superfast speeds (UK average of 97%) and includes coverage provided by the Connected Counties superfast broadband project as part of the Government’s 'Superfast Broadband Programme', which provided superfast access to over 50,000 premises in Hertfordshire.
I remain committed to ensuring the whole constituency receives a fast, reliable broadband connection, which has become even more crucial in recent years with a rise in those working from home. I continue to raise this issue with BT Openreach and have even raised this directly with the Prime Minister during Prime Minister's Questions in 2022. I am pleased that Hertfordshire is now in procurement as part of the Government's 'Project Gigabit' scheme and I will continue to work with relevant organisations to improve connectivity across the constituency wherever I can.