Exmoor Technology

Figures published by the BBC this week have indicated a distinct discrepancy between the broadband speeds received by razor edged urbanites, and those received by our carrot crunching rural relations.

Swinging London’s hipsters and media moguls receive, on average, download speeds of 4460 Kbps. The country cousins in East Anglia are only getting 3090 Kbps at best.

Bottom of the pile is Northern Ireland, where average download speeds are a paltry 2258 Kbps. Wales fares little better at 2587 Kbps, and residents of the South West are getting only 2869 Kbps to fire up their broadband driven stoves and mangles.

So who deserves a speedier service the most, town or country?

I have split loyalties having been born a country boy but raised a city dweller. My heart says businesses and residential properties in the country have just as much claim to a superior broadband service as those in any given metropolis, but my head knows it makes sense to give a cluster of commerce in a large town priority.

Not wishing to contradict myself too much, but high profile industries that relocated to rural areas (Barclaycard in Northamptonshire, Amazon in Buckinghamshire, Abbey in West Yorkshire) must feel the effects of these slow speeds the most. If ever there was an argument for improving rural services, then this is it in my opinion.

The nucleus of progress is more often than not located in towns and cities though, London in particular. With all due respect to rural residents, it’s the instant access to entertainment and amenities (Chinese food at 4am, early previews of big films, 24 hour dry cleaning etc.) that draws people to London, and these people wouldn’t stand for anything less than top dollar top speed broadband services.

However, to paraphrase the Waitrose ad, everyone deserves good broadband.