Councillor calls for broadband boost

Avondale councillor Graeme Campbell hopes to improve internet services in Strathaven this year.

The Conservative representative has vowed to crack down on poor internet service in the area after receiving complaints from constituents. He feels that, while the phone service has improved, the same should be done for broadband in Strathaven and the town’s surrounding areas.

He said:“I’ve received countless complaints from residents and small businesses in the more rural parts of Avondale about how appalling their internet service is. Last year we saw O2 and Vodafone deliver 4G to Strathaven via their new six-metre mast on the Strathaven Exchange. Most of us using O2 and Vodafone are now enjoying mobile internet speeds of 20-plus Mb/sec.

“With 5G, which is only a few years away, we will see internet speeds increase beyond comprehension so I think it’s time the Avondale community tells BT and their decaying cable network that they’ve had their day and we’ll look to new communitybased mobile internet services to deliver what this community, its residents and businesses need for the future.

“That’s one of my many pet projects in 2017 – looking at how working in partnership with innovative data providers we can deliver faster and more reliable digital connectivity to the community at a cost that enables everyone to not only get online, but enjoy the services the internet has delivered us for over 20 years now.”