Seventeen more Wales communities join Superfast Cymru fibre broadband fast lane
More than 38,000 homes and businesses will benefit;
Hundreds of kilometres of fibre cable already laid across the country
Another 17 Welsh towns and villages have joined Superfast Cymru’s fibre broadband fast lane with more to follow by the end of the year, the Welsh Government and BT announced today.
The latest communities to go live include Blaenau Ffestiniog, Criccieth, Fairbourne, Harlech, Llanberis, Penygroes, Penrhyndeudraeth and Tywyn in the north and Brynmawr, Clydach and Rhiwderin in the south (a full list of the latest communities to go live are included in the notes to editors).
Once the roll-out is completed in these locations another 38,000 homes and businesses will have access to the latest high speed fibre broadband technology.
And that number is set to grow with around thirty more communities expected to ‘go live’ by the end of the year including Llangefni and Nefyn in the coming weeks.
Superfast Cymru, a partnership between the Welsh Government and BT, aims to take fibre broadband the length and breadth of Wales, to areas not covered by the private sector’s commercial plans.
Ken Skates, Deputy Minister for Skills and Technology, said: “We are working hard to make sure that all parts of Wales are able to benefit from this unprecedented scheme for next generation broadband.
“I’m delighted that more businesses and communities in North Wales will soon have access to a fast, reliable broadband connection. This is a significant step forwards for Superfast Cymru and means that we are well on our way to achieving our target of giving 96 per cent of premises in Wales access to fast fibre broadband by 2016.
"By the end of this year, as a direct result of Superfast Cymru, we expect 100,000 homes and businesses to be able to access superfast fibre broadband rising to 230,000 by the end of Spring 2014 and 480,000 by Spring 2015.”
Ed Hunt, BT’s programme director for Superfast Cymru, added: “We are making great progress in rolling out fibre the length and breadth of Wales. Thousands of people across the country are already enjoying the benefits of fibre broadband and we have already laid hundreds of kilometres of fibre cable as part of the project.
“Whether you’re a small business wanting to stay in touch with customers and suppliers, or parents with children using the internet for homework and playing games, whatever you do online, you can do it much better and faster with fibre broadband.”
The high-speed network installed by Openreach, BT’s local network business will be available on an equal, wholesale basis to all companies providing broadband services to homes and businesses. More than 80 communications providers are currently trialling or offering fibre broadband over BT’s network.”
Further details of the programme, including areas in Wales that are part of the roll-out, are available on the Superfast Cymru website www.superfast-cymru.com.
ENDS
Notes to Editors
The latest communities to be switched on to fibre are: Abersoch, Bethesda, Blaenau Ffestinioig, Brynmawr, Clydach, Criccieth, Dolgellau, Fairbourne, Harlech, Llanberis, Llanwnda, Penrhyndeudraeth, Penygroes, Port Dinorwic, Rhiwderin, Tywyn, Waunfawr
Super-fast fibre optic broadband can be delivered as “fibre to the cabinet” (FTTC) or “fibre to the premises” (FTTP). FTTC is where the fibre connection is from the exchange to the street side cabinet with the remainder of the connection being over copper. Superfast Cymru will provide the majority of business and residential premises with the capability of accessing broadband at speeds in excess of 30Mbps by 2016. This is in line with the EU's policy of widespread Superfast broadband access by 2020. The programme will also enable access to speeds of over 100Mbps in a significant number of areas of Wales. Further information about next generation broadband is available from www.bt.com/ngb
About the Welsh Government and Superfast Cymru
The Welsh Government is the devolved Government for Wales. We are working to help improve the lives of people in Wales and make our nation a better place in which to live and work.
The Welsh Government and BT are working in partnership on the 'Superfast Cymru' programme to develop a nationwide superfast broadband infrastructure.
Superfast Cymru will boost commercial roll-out and help Welsh Government achieve its target to deliver high speed fibre broadband to 96% of homes and businesses in Wales by 2016.
Superfast Cymru is set to transform the broadband landscape in Wales and to promote economic growth and sustainable jobs in Wales. We have estimated that up to 2,500 further full times jobs could be created throughout the Welsh economy over time. It will ensure we are at the forefront of the global digital economy and help to champion Wales as a great place to live, work, invest and visit.
About Superfast Britain
Superfast Britain is a UK Government programme of investment in broadband and communication infrastructure across the UK. Run by the Department of Culture, Media and Sport, this investment helps businesses to grow, creates jobs and will make Britain more competitive in the global race. The portfolio is comprised of three elements:
• £780m to extend superfast broadband to 95% of the UK by 2017
• £150m to provide high speed broadband to businesses in 22 cities
• £150m to improve quality and coverage of mobile phone and basic data network services
Administered on behalf of Government by Broadband Delivery UK (BDUK), Superfast Britain is transforming Britain by promoting growth, enabling skills and learning, and improving quality of life.For further information: https://www.gov.uk/broadband-delivery-uk
