Regional Development Australia Hunter representatives will present a plan and recommendations to reduce the gap in internet speeds in the Hunter at a seminar in Newcastle on Thursday.

MA Technology Solutions owner Gary Meers, based in central Maitland, said slow internet service was a problem for businesses in the CBD.

He said slow internet negatively affected businesses’ efficiency and response times when communicating with customers, which could put them at risk of losing business.

“A lot of businesses in central Maitland suffer poor internet access because they are so far away from the exchange at East Maitland,” Mr Meers said.

“A customer might send an email about a product to two or three different businesses and they [the customer] might go with the first one that responds.

"With a business like ours, we need to be able to remotely access customer data.

"If we have to travel back and forward, a 15-minute job could suddenly take an hour.”

Work has begun to roll out the National Broadband Network in parts of Tenambit, East Maitland, Raworth and Morpeth.

Meanwhile, preparation for the rollout has begun in Ashtonfield.

There are small areas where the NBN is already available in Gillieston Heights, Aberglasslyn and Rutherford, but there are no immediate plans to expand the NBN in those areas.

Mr Meers said central Maitland, as a business district, should have been a high priority for high-speed broadband to be installed.

He said businesses needed fast access to emails, social media accounts and be able to update their websites as quickly as possible to stay on the cutting edge and attract customers.

The Mercury has reported previously that residents in ­suburbs such as Thornton and Beresfield have struggled to access ADSL internet services because of overloaded or absence of infrastructure.

RDA Hunter’s seminar will take place at Hunter Trade and Investment Centre in Newcastle from 10am to noon. Email admin@rdahunter.org.au to RSVP.