Councillors launch a broadside against rural broadband speeds

BALLYMENA Councillors have called on their Chief Executive to write to both the DARD and DETI Ministers and to British Telecom to make them aware of poor broadband speeds being claimed by rural residents in the borough and urging them to come up with solutions for service improvement.

Their call went out at last Tuesday night’s monthly meeting of the local authority after the problem was highlighted by Cllr Tommy Nicholl.

Mr Nicholl said he and the four other Bannside representatives had been sent an email from a local resident seeking their help to improve the “shockingly poor broadband speeds” being experienced in the locale which, he added, “were no better than what was available 15 years ago via dial up”.

Pointing out that he had encountered a slow service himself, Cllr Nicholl asked that a letter be sent from Council to “the appropriate authorities”, including BT and Stormont, to bring the matter to their attention.

“I would think this problem arises right across the borough,” he added.

His remarks were supported by Cllrs Roy Gillespie, Monica Digney and by Declan O’Loan who also sought clarification from BT on their Infinity Service, specifically who can avail of it locally.

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