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Gwynedd businesses speeding ahead with Superfast Cymru

More and more businesses in Gwynedd are benefiting from superfast broadband as the Superfast Cymru rollout continues in the county, Deputy Minister for Skills and Technology Julie James said recently.

To date 74 per cent of premises in the county are able to access faster internet speeds thanks to Superfast Cymru, that’s over 46,000 premises in the area.

This has been made possible as result of Superfast Cymru which is a partnership between the Welsh Government and BT, with additional funding from Broadband Delivery UK (BDUK) and the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF).  

Superfast Cymru is bringing superfast broadband speeds to areas which would otherwise not receive it.  Whole counties, such as Gwynedd, Anglesey, Ceredigion and others, would have no superfast broadband without the scheme.  

Two businesses making the most of faster internet speeds are Inigo Jones, near Groeslon, and Geosho in Caernarfon.  

Inigo Jones Slate Works was established in 1861 and has firmly embraced superfast broadband.  The slate works began by producing writing slates for schools before moving on to slate electrical panels.  It now creates and sells slate fireplaces, memorials, kitchen worktops and crafts.  It also includes a shop, café and exhibition.

Managing Director John Lloyd said:

“Since the arrival of superfast broadband we have seen savings in time, cost and annoyance – I would say it’s freed up 20 per cent of my time and increased web sales by 5 per cent which is quite significant.  We’ve also utilised cloud-based systems to store and back-up files and all these benefits have undoubtedly improved our productivity and quality of service.

“These days visitors expect free wi-fi, which we simply could not provide before, but now all our visitors are happy and connected.  It’s given our marketing and social media a boost because visitors are instantly sharing their Inigo Jones experience online.  

“Over the years we have evolved as a business and the superfast broadband will guide us into the new digital era.”

Geosho, based in Doc Fictoria in Caernarfon, provide people with practical tools that exploit the benefits of location based information, digital mapping and smartphones.  

Their products include Geotra, an innovative mobile and web based Public Transport information and timetable management system that links operators, transport planners and their public users with service information and analytics on one cloud based platform.

Paul Sandham, Managing Director at Geosho said:

"Superfast means that we are able to develop and process massive amounts of location data and content locally, which is cheaper and more controllable, and then upload this quickly overnight to our servers in Germany. It is also a boon in that we are now able to support a larger team of developers on one connection without the need for separate lines.”

Deputy Minister for Skills and Technology Julie James said:

“It’s been great to see the difference superfast broadband has made to these two businesses in Gwynedd.  With 74 per cent of premises now able to access superfast broadband in the county there are many more businesses which can take advantage of faster internet speeds.

“Like many other counties in Wales, Gwynedd would not have any superfast broadband without the intervention of Superfast Cymru and it is good to see the impact it is having.  We have intervened to provide access to superfast services because the scale of market failure in Wales is greater than the rest of the UK. This technology can make a real difference, and help boost the area’s economic prosperity.”

Alwen Williams, director for BT Cymru /Wales, said:

“Superfast broadband is having a huge impact on the way we live our lives in Wales.

“It helps business to move, act and trade more quickly and effectively. Both Inigo Jones Slate works and Geosho prove this.

“When combined with BT’s commercial roll-out, we’ve already provided more than 1.24m Welsh homes and businesses with access to high-speed fibre broadband and we look forward to working with our partners to extend this even further across the country.”

Last year the Welsh Government announced a £12.5m five year programme to ensure businesses across Wales can maximise the benefits of superfast broadband.  Further information is available on:www.businesswales.gov.wales/superfastbusinesswales

 

Channel website: http://gov.wales

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