Boston in bottom slowest 10 per cent in country for broadband

The borough has download speeds of 35.7 Mbps on average – well below the UK figure of 64 Mbps. Only neighbouring South Holland is slower when it comes to Lincolnshire – and customers in Lincoln, the county’s fastest area, receive 84 Mbps.

This data puts Boston in the bottom 10 per cent of the UK. Only 27 local authority areas have broadband speeds that are slower – and these include the Orkney Islands and Shetland Islands.

The figures come to light following a new report that outlines the UK’s race to deliver 1GB broadband for all homes by 2025. That would be 28 times faster than the current Boston average, if achieved.

The Broadband Stakeholder Group (BSG) – an industry body that advises the Government on broadband – says this investment is especially important as a result of the coronavirus.

BSG chief executive officer Clare MacNamara said: “The case for sustained investment in 5G and gigabit connectivity in support of the UK Government’s 2025 ambitions has never been stronger.

“Digital connectivity has never been as critical to our ability to navigate our new normal, socially-distanced lives as citizens, businesses and consumers, and the need for regulatory and policy certainty has never been greater.

“As connectivity will be one of the key facilitators of economic recovery, it is more important than ever for Government and Ofcom to incentivise and support investment. This could particularly benefit people living in sparsely populated and rural areas where network roll-out isn’t economically viable. For these communities, COVID-19 has only served to widen the digital divide.”

The Lincolnshire league table

* Lincoln – 84 Mbps (average download speed)

* North Kesteven – 57.9

* South Kesteven – 50.4

* West Lindsey - 44.5

* East Lindsey – 40.1

* Boston – 35.7

* South Holland – 34.4

** You can find a link to the report (and test your own broadband speed) here.