WIREDGOV

The Superfast Cymru programme is moving at speed with many homes and businesses in 100 telephone exchange areas now able to access and enjoy the benefits of superfast broadband, Deputy Minister for Skills and Technology Ken Skates has said. 

Over 190,000 premises are now able to benefit from fast fibre broadband in Wales, as a result of Superfast Cymru with many more expected to be able to access the resource over the next year. These include communities in Blaenau Gwent, Bridgend, Caerphilly, Ceredigion, Flintshire, Gwynedd, Isle of Anglesey, Merthyr Tydfil, Newport, Rhondda Cynon Taff, Swansea and the Vale of Glamorgan.

Information about where and when communities will get fibre over the next 12 months as a result of Superfast Cymru has been published onwww.superfast-cymru.com.

Superfast Cymru, a partnership between Welsh Government and BT, is taking fibre broadband to parts of the country not covered by commercial plans. It is the largest partnership of its kind in the UK working to give, when combined with private sector roll-outs, 96 per cent of premises in Wales access to fast fibre broadband by Spring 2016.  

Ofcom's annual Communications Market Report, published last week, has credited the Superfast Cymru programme for driving superfast broadband coverage in Wales.

Deputy Minister for Skills and Technology, Ken Skates said:

“Superfast broadband has the ability to transform the way we live our lives. From accessing entertainment and communicating through social media to how businesses interact with customers and develop ways of working more efficiently, fast fibre broadband opens up a whole spectrum of opportunities.

“The Welsh Government is fully committed to seeing Wales become a truly digital nation and ensuring we have the right infrastructure in place is vital in making that vision a reality.

“Our plans for superfast broadband are the most ambitious in the UK providing faster broadband to a greater proportion of premises more quickly.

“I’m very pleased that 100 exchange areas are now live in Wales thanks to the Superfast Cymru programme which means thousands of people can enjoy the benefits of faster internet speeds.

“The project continues at pace and will reach more communities and make a significant difference to businesses and households.”

Ed Hunt, Superfast Cymru Programme Director, said:

“Reaching the 100 exchange area milestone is wonderful news - but we’re not resting.

“We’re carrying on our rollout and look forward to bringing superfast speeds the length and breadth of Wales. We have already made service live in 19 Local Authority areas and we’ll be in all 22 soon”.

“Our rollout is providing all kinds of benefits to the people of Wales, such as improving work life balance through homeworking, on line learning, keeping in touch with friends and relatives using video conferencing applications and accessing public services”.

£205m funding has been provided by the Welsh Government, the UK Government and the European Regional Development Fund, with BT contributing a further £220m to deliver fibre across Wales via its commercial roll out and the Superfast Cymru programme.

Households and businesses are not connected to fast fibre broadband automatically. Customers who want superfast speeds need to contact an internet service provider (ISP) to sign up to receive the technology. There are several ISPs offering fibre broadband in Wales so customers can shop around and choose the package that is best for them. If they choose not to upgrade to fibre broadband, they will be able to continue using their existing broadband service