A report published today has found that Queen's Road in Weybridge has the slowest internet speeds in the country, with speeds of just 0.12mbps. That is 5,000 times slower than the fastest UK connections, and would take 119 hours to download just one film.
With the challenges the pandemic has brought, the ability to connect with others from our homes is more important than ever, whether working from home or simply needing to see and talk to our friends and family online. The internet has become a measure by which we also assess inequality, as restricted access also limits opportunities for learning, finding jobs and support when needed.
Responding to the news, Dr Ben Spencer, MP for Runnymede and Weybridge said:
The findings of the report are very surprising and I would urge anyone unhappy with the service they receive to remember they do have options - the report published today is a summary of what speeds people are getting, not what is available. No one should be left without the ability to connect to fast broadband. Should anyone be experiencing difficulties obtaining access to broadband I would be happy to support them to resolve the issue.
The overall figures for internet connection in the UK continue to increase. Figures published by the Office for National Statistics in August this year show that 96% of households now have internet access, up from 93% in 2019, and just 57% in 2006.
