According to recent research, broadband internet access at home boosts our wellbeing. The UK Broadband Impact Study 2013 revealed that for many the internet is a positive social force for communications, entertainment, shopping, learning, health, employment and access to public services (the joy of super fast tax disc application.)
Today the government announced £9bn worth of investment into Britain's railways. This will include upgrading track and electrifying several lines. It's good to see the UK's 19th century infrastructure finally brought into the 20th. But if we want real economic growth, shouldn't we be thinking about 21st century infrastructure instead?
A simple stat for you to start: there are four mentions of 'rural' in the Budget document released by the Treasury today (available here) and 13 for 'cities'.
Three out of four Virgin customers currently choose the slowest, cheapest package available. The ability to download an album in half a minute has no real appeal to most people. Faster broadband will not "change the way many households, consumers and businesses use the internet", whatever Mr Cameron says. In fact, they won't even notice.