Broadband and Mobile Signal “not spots” and intermittent access are a real problem across the whole of East Anglia impacting not only on businesses but also individuals and residents.

That’s why in March 2014, I called together over 70 representatives of small businesses, councils and unions to Newmarket to discuss how we can ensure that superfast broadband and mobile telephone signal can stretch to every corner of our region.

I laid out my three aims:

• That providing East Anglia with faster connectivity could unlock an economic and rural renaissance


• To launch a special voucher scheme to help rural locations to get connected with alternative providers


• To access £150 of government funding to mobile telephone “notspots”

I will be setting up a steering group involving rural organisations and together we will meet with the Minister Ed Vaizey in September 2014 to press the case for our region.