WIREDGOV

The most remote location in Wales to benefit from the Superfast Cymru programme now has access to some of the fastest internet speeds in the UK, the Deputy Minister for Skills and Technology Julie James has said.

Properties in Dinas Mawddwy, Gwynedd are beginning to enjoy the many benefits of superfast internet speeds after more than 16km of overhead fibre – a distance which has not been achieved before anywhere in the UK - and 20km of underground fibre was installed to reach the village.

BT engineers have succeeded in installing Fibre to the Premises (FTTP) to Dinas Mawddwy which means homes and businesses in the village will now be able to take advantage of broadband speeds up to 330Mbs - making them some of the best-connected properties in the UK.

The news was welcomed by Festival Art and Books, an online business based in Dinas Mawddwy which specialise in selling rare books such as JRR Tolkien’s ‘The Hobbit’ and Tolkien-inspired collectable art. Owner, Mark Faith, said:  

“I am delighted superfast broadband has come to our valley as it allows me to run my business from Wales but have an international presence.

“We’re a rural business that relies heavily on the internet. We haven’t had the service long but I can already see how having fibre will open up new opportunities to develop our business.”

Superfast broadband will enable businesses in the village to work faster and more efficiently, benefitting from faster upload and download speeds and reducing the need to travel.

With a customer base that spans around the world Mark explained:

“In addition to selling rare books and art internationally we’re working with the largest music recording studio in Europe, Metropolis Studios in London, to attract album cover art commissions.

“We produce art for both album and book covers and having fast broadband to send artwork quickly from Dinas Mawddwy will make all the difference. To put it simply - faster internet speeds will give us a competitive edge.”

In the coming months, additional homes and businesses in the village will be able to access high speed fibre broadband as BT’s engineers  roll-out Fibre to the Cabinet (FTTC).

Deputy Minister for Skills and Technology, Julie James, said:

“This is excellent news for the residents and businesses of Dinas Mawddwy and shows the lengths the Superfast Cymru programme is going so people can enjoy the benefits of fast fibre broadband.

“The sheer distance of the overhead fibre to reach the village is an achievement which hasn’t been realised before throughout the UK and shows our commitment to connect rural communities in Wales.

“Bringing superfast speeds to Dinas Mawddwy is a symbol of how ambitious the Superfast Cymru programme is and by Spring 2016 we aim to reach 96% of properties meaning people will have access to faster internet speeds quicker than the rest of the UK.

“We are committed to seeing Wales become a truly digital nation and the Superfast Cymru scheme is vital in making that vision a reality.”

At home, fast fibre will mean residents in Dinas Mawddwy will be able to do their own thing online, all at the same time, whether that is streaming films, downloading music, studying or keeping in touch with loved ones.

Welcoming news that Dinas Mawddwy residents will now have access to some of the fastest broadband speeds in the UK, Councillor John Wynn Jones, Gwynedd Council Economy Cabinet Member said:

“As a Council, we are committed to ensuring that households and businesses across the county can benefit from the economic and social benefits associated with superfast broadband. I am delighted that properties in Dinas Mawddwy - the very south of the county - are the latest in Gwynedd to start to go live as part of the Superfast Cymru programme.

“We believe that making the most of what superfast broadband offers will ensure that residents and enterprises in every part of Gwynedd will have the same opportunities and advantages as other individuals and communities – locally and internationally.”

Households and businesses in Dinas Mawddwy that want to take advantage of the benefits of fast fibre broadband should contact the internet service provider (ISP) of their choice to place an order.

Other locations in Wales to have benefited from FTTP technology, which sees fast fibre connected to individual premises rather than to the cabinet only, include Llanengan, Mold, Connahs Quay, Morriston and Gorseinon.

As the largest partnership of its kind in the UK Superfast Cymru is a partnership between the Welsh Government, UK Government, European Regional Development Fund and BT.

£205m of funding has been provided by 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.

Information about the roll-out is published on the Superfast Cymru website (www.superfast-cymru.com) including a coverage map which provides details of roll-out plans looking approximately 12 months ahead.