MP pledges to fight for faster broadband

South Norfolk MP Richard Bacon pledged to continue to lobby for faster broadband during a visit to a growing data management company in Diss.Mr Bacon said the widening of the county's broadband capacity was 'more important' than an improved road network as he met officials from Syne qua non on Friday.

South Norfolk MP Richard Bacon pledged to continue to lobby for faster broadband during a visit to a growing data management company in Diss.

Mr Bacon said the widening of the county's broadband capacity was 'more important' than an improved road network as he met officials from Syne qua non on Friday.

The company, which provides clinical data management and bio statistical services to the pharmaceutical and biotechnology industries, moved to larger offices in Diss at the end of last year, but has warned that its future growth will be restricted by slow internet connections.

Tony Rees, director of Syne qua non, which employs 120 people at its new site at Diss Business Park, said broadband speed was one of the major headaches facing his firm.

'BT is holding a lot of businesses back and the size of the pipe coming into East Anglia is too small to run a modern business. We have registered our demand for an upgrade of the link for years. Having the same internet speeds as London would make it more appealing for new business,' he said.

Mr Bacon said he had reassurances from BT during a meeting last year about improvements to Norfolk's broadband. However, he said he would take the issue up again with BT regional director Peter McCarthy-Ward.

Bev Spratt, South Norfolk Council chairman added that he was 'very concerned' about the broadband situation was holding back business growth.