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E-mail this to a friendThe Welsh Assembly Government is holding an industry event in Cardiff for suppliers to learn about its plans to procure a first class, globally competitive next generation broadband network for Wales.
Welsh Ministers have set a target for all businesses to have access to Next Generation broadband by mid-2016, and all households by 2020 - ahead of European targets.
Mr Jones will say,
“This is an important event, part of our preparations for a truly digital economy. Last year I launched our new policy - ‘Economic Renewal: a new direction’ - a strategy to grow the Welsh economy and take full advantage of future opportunities.
“It signalled a fundamental shift in policy - highlighting infrastructure, skills, R&D; and improving the conditions within which all businesses operate. A key part is a much greater emphasis on broadband technology.
“We are committed to ensuring all businesses have access to Next Generation broadband by mid-2016, and all households by 2020 - ahead of European targets. The first stage of that process really gets going today.
“I want business to take the lead - with the Assembly Government helping in every way it can. We are keen to see the private sector driving forward its own investment wherever that’s commercially feasible - and we want to engage fully with you to encourage that process.
“However there are other areas where we recognise that government investment will be needed. We want to maintain our momentum for economic renewal and that’s why we’re all here today. We want the views of industry about delivery of our ambitions.
“We want to ensure widespread appreciation of the technologies currently available in the market - what are the latest developments taking place, for example. Above all, we want to provide a platform for collaboration and ensure the opportunity for industry players to network and potentially form consortia to put together bids.
"This government is determined to make Wales a leader in digital technology - the goal of our recently published Digital Wales strategy.”
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