Almost a third of broadband connections across Kent aren’t getting the proposed minimum
broadband download speed.

The figures have been released as part of a new report, entitled Broadband 2.0, which is backed by a group of 57 cross-party MPs known as the British Infrastructure Group.

Led by former Conservative party chairman Grant Shapps, they’re now calling on communications regulator Ofcom to compensate families who do not get the internet speeds they pay for.

The proposed minimum download speed is ten megabits per second (Mb/s), a figure that just over 31% of broadband connections across the county are failing to meet.

Ashford (40.2%) and Canterbury (36.6%) have the highest percentage of broadband connections that aren’t meeting that standard in Kent.

Third highest is North Thanet, with over 11,000 not receiving speeds above the proposed minimum standard, followed by Sevenoaks and Dartford.

North Thanet MP Sir Roger Gale is part of the group behind the report, which has also found what is being called a ‘worrying lack’ of minimum standards broadband customer services.

They say that none of the major broadband providers that are in a voluntary agreement with Ofcom could provide ‘any clear information’ about their complaints procedures.

The regulator said they “share concerns” on broadband improvement and are taking “firm,
wide-ranging action” to protect customers, which includes new plans for automatic compensation and making sure that providers commit to giving “accurate speed information”.