Superfast Cymru announces 30,000 more homes and businesses to get access to high speed fibre as new broadband hq opens
Deputy Minister for Skills and Technology Ken Skates today announced six new exchanges going live with high speed fibre broadband this week during his visit to Superfast Cymru’s new broadband HQ in Cardiff.
Work is continuing apace in Wales to achieve the Welsh Government’s aim of enabling 96 per cent of premises in the country to access fast fibre broadband by the end of Spring 2016. Exchanges in Moelfre, Valley on Anglesey, Merthyr Tydfil, Ogmore Valley, Llangoed and Ynysowen are going live with fibre this week as part of Superfast Cymru, making the high-speed technology available to around 30,000 homes and businesses in those areas for the first time.
The Deputy Minister made the announcement during a visit to the Superfast Cymru Project Management Office, the operational nerve-centre and a joint working space for the key officials from the Welsh Government and BT working on the deployment plans.
The Deputy Minister said: “Our plans for superfast fibre are the most ambitious in the UK providing faster broadband to a great proportion of premises more quickly. In January I announced that 100,000 premises had already been connected and by the time the project is finished in 2016 96 per cent of Wales will have access to fast fibre broadband as a result of commercial roll-outs and Superfast Cymru. That won’t just put Wales ahead of England, Scotland and Northern Ireland but the USA and Japan.”
Among the team that the Deputy Minister met was Jai Sullivan, one of the 94 apprentices who have been recruited by BT to help deliver the programme. Jai, said: “It was great to meet with Ken Skates and talk with him about the hard work that’s going on behind the scenes to roll-out fibre. I am particularly pleased that we’ve reached Merthyr Tydfil as it’s my home town and my friends and family will be really chuffed. I’m proud to be part of a project that’s going to make such a difference to Wales.”
Ed Hunt, BT programme director for Superfast Cymru, said: “The Superfast Cymru HQ shows this partnership in action. Delivering a complex project like this needs the Welsh Government and BT Teams to be working closely together, and sharing a working space like this is an efficient way to achieve this. And it’s one of the ways we’re able to deliver fibre to areas like Merthyr Tydfil three months ahead of plan.”
Superfast Cymru, a partnership between Welsh Government and BT, is taking fibre broadband to parts of the country not covered by commercial plans.
Engineers have installed around 300 new fibre broadband cabinets and more than 500 kilometres of fibre cable, enough to run all the way by road from Holyhead to Glasgow, since the programme was launched in July 2012.
Whether it’s streaming a film, researching for homework, downloading music or simply staying in touch, fast fibre broadband means that everyone in the house can do their own thing online, all at the same time.
Fast fibre broadband also means that businesses can take advantage of the many opportunities offered by social media and digital marketing. This allows businesses to engage with potential customers and current customers more easily and cheaply. It also helps remove barriers to communications which means that new customers could be everywhere and anywhere.
Notes
For information about which exchange areas are already enabled go to the coverage map onhttp://www.superfast-cymru.com/where-and-when
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 the 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 BT
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
