CRAWLING broadband speeds are hurting a publishing firm’s expansion plans.

Managing director Tony Stephenson currently forks out just under £1,000 a year for three 2mbps broadband connections because one simply is not enough to service his successful publishing firm Traplet Publications, in Pendragon Close near Townsend Way, Malvern.

Mr Stephenson contacted the Malvern Gazette over our continuing campaign for superfast broadband for all.

As reported, BT is still negotiating with the Malvern Hills Conservators about installing key equipment on their land – with the Conservators saying last week they would not stand in the way of progress.

However, an agreement remains elusive and a deal is not expected this week as hoped.

Malvern MP Harriett Baldwin is meeting the Conservators today (Friday) and is backing our campaign, saying Malvern people have waited too long for a decent service.

Generally, while more than 15,600 properties are benefiting from downloads of up to 80mbps with the arrival of BT’s fibre-optic service, thousands in West Malvern and Malvern Wells are still stuck with just a fraction of those speeds despite promises of connections by January 2012.

Mr Stephenson employs 60 people and wants to expand operations, but says it will be difficult without the BT upgrade.

His company sends and receiving very large data files, including digitised versions of the craft modelling magazines he publishes.

But individual pages of these magazines take up to seven hours to send, and his own staff are often reduced to sending work from their own homes.

“We’ve got offices in the United States, Australia and South Africa,” he said.

“I can get a better connection out in the sticks in South Africa than here.”

BT, which has a monopoly on high-speed broadband in Malvern, suggested Mr Stephenson pay to have their dedicated broadband line for his sole use installed, costing up to £20,000 a year.

Mrs Baldwin said: “I will be talking to BT to identify what steps we can take to fix this issue.

“It is not right Malvern homes and businesses have already faced delays getting superfast broadband originally promised in January.”

Former home secretary Jacqui Smith, who lives in Malvern, took to Twitter to bemoan the situation, saying “When will our broadband be upgraded? We need wider access, but ours is too slow for effective use.”