Broadband ‘helping people decide where to live’

Broadband is important for many, including those enjoying shared web hosting services. Now it seems the technology is a factor in helping people decide where they live.

A Top 10 Broadband survey has shown that 39 per cent of respondents claimed poor broadband speeds and erratic network connections were likely to deter them from moving to a new area.

Six out of ten admitted they would be irritated and envious if they found out a neighbour was receiving faster speeds than them.

Mark Jackson, editor-in-chief at ISPreview.co.uk, said that some areas in the UK will get priority when the universal access to 2Mpbs broadband the government has promised by 2012 is rolled out.

"If left to their own devices, the private sector will always prioritise the coverage of next-generation broadband services to areas where it is more commercially viable first – cities and big towns," Mr Jackson commented.

He added that this will mean remote and rural communities will suffer from the limitations of slower technologies.

Written by Jessica Lighthouse.