Norwich MP calls for fibre broadband funding

Norwich should be placed at the front of the queue when future government funding for fibre optic broadband networks is handed out, according to local MP Chloe Smith.

In a letter to new Culture Secretary Sajid Javid, Ms Smith made the case for Norwich's inclusion in a forthcoming round of funding for the Superconnected Cities programme, which provides financial support to assist with the rollout of fibre broadband in some of the UK's biggest urban areas.

A total of 22 cities have so far benefited from the initiative, but the Norwich North MP insisted her constituency should not be left in the "internet slow lane", reports the Eastern Daily Press.

"Urban broadband is inadequate for my constituents in key business sectors," she explained. "This includes Norwich's digital and creative sector, a key service sector, where we would hope to compete internationally."

In the letter, Ms Smith included testimony from Josh Davies, co-founder of the specialist video editing company FX Home, who claimed slow broadband is costing him £1,000 a year per member of staff due to lost productivity.