WE live in a connected world where broadband is no longer a luxury – it is a necessity. Despite this, thousands of people in the North-East still suffer the frustration of agonisingly slow internet speeds or no connection at all.

Businesses, schools and homes in rural areas are stuck in the slow lane of the information superhighway, while their urban counterparts enjoy the fruits of high-speed fibre optic connections.

We applaud the Government’s Universal Service Commitment to connect 95 per cent of homes with basic broadband by 2017, even if the 2Mbps speed is the absolute minimum a connected household needs these days.

However, that will still leave thousands of households with poor speeds – or no broadband at all.

Broadband Delivery UK is working to improve broadband quality and coverage in areas where there is no business case, such as the remote parts of Teesdale and Weardale.

However, confusion surrounds Durham County Council’s bid to the Government’s rural broadband fund and, until the money arrives, these areas will have to put up with a substandard infrastructure.

Investment in broadband will reap long-term rewards. It safeguards jobs in rural areas, reduces commuting costs and improves the quality of life by saving time.

According to a recent study, every £1 of public investment will yield £20 in net economic impact. Decent broadband will contribute £17bn to the UK economy by 2024.

We must make rural broadband a political priority. Otherwise, the North-South divide will be joined by a digital divide that will be just as damaging to our region’s socioeconomic status.