Sussex business chief issues super-fast broadband pledge

Lack of fibre optic broadband access in Sussex is preventing local businesses from fulfilling their potential, according to Sussex Enterprise.

Chief executive of the chamber of commerce Mark Froud said tackling the problem of poor connectivity is one of its key priorities for the year ahead, along with addressing the high level of red tape affecting employers and the lack of skills acquired by school-leavers and those who are out of work.

He was quoted by the Sussex Express as saying: "Each of them are long-term and have been intractable, but I sense there is a willingness to take these problems out of the too difficult to do box and do something about them."

According to the latest Ofcom figures, super-fast broadband is currently available to just three per cent of properties in East Sussex, while 15.6 per cent of residents receive speeds of less than 2Mbps.

In West Sussex, fibre broadband provision is significantly higher at 42 per cent.