RESIDENTS across East Anglia are being urged to register their demand for faster broadband.

Doing so would encourage commercial suppliers to invest in next-generation broadband infrastructure, said the East of England Development Agency (EEDA).

It is urging everybody in the region to register their interest in the technology under the Eastern Region Broadband Uplift Scheme (EREBUS).

Next-generation broadband supports video-rich, bandwidth-hungry services increasingly used by businesses, schools, homes and hospitals.

But the technology is so far largely confined to larger towns and cities, rather than market towns and more sparsely populated rural areas.

Rural residents risk being left behind by fibre-based connections seen as vital by businesses and policy-makers.

The government believes fast broadband is critical to the nation’s economy and for businesses to compete successfully in the global marketplace.

Jan Pinkerton, EEDA head of business ICT, said she wanted businesses, public sector bodies and voluntary organisations to register their interest in faster broadband.

“This is part of our wider strategy to stimulate investment,” she said.

“Access to fast broadband is proven to have a positive impact on the economy, increasing access to services and boosting business opportunities.”

The agency was keen to demonstrate there was sufficient demand to make commercial investment in next generation broadband worthwhile.

“We plan to use this to attract funding from the private sector and from Europe.”

EEDA hopes its EREBUS project will establish a database that will highlight demand down to postcode level.

A map of where people want faster broadband the most will be published early in 2010, it said.

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