Superfast Cymru passes first anniversary milestone by revealing 100,000 fibre broadband target
Another 63 communities due to go live by end of spring 2014;
Superfast Cymru has passed the first anniversary of its launch by announcing that more than 100,000 homes and businesses in Wales are expected to have access to high speed fibre broadband as a direct result of the project by the end of the year.
Fifty seven towns and rural communities have already ‘gone live’ with fibre or are in the process of being upgraded as part of the programme.
A further 63 communities are scheduled to go live by the end of spring 2014, increasing the number of premises able to take advantage of the technology by then to around 230,000 (see Notes to Editors for details of which communities will benefit). Work will be underway in all 22 unitary authorities in Wales by early spring 2015.
The ambitious Welsh Government and BT project, the largest partnership of its kind in the UK, was launched in July last year and will help the Welsh Government achieve its aim of taking fibre broadband to 96 per cent of homes and businesses in Wales by the end of spring 2016.
BT also promised to create 100 new apprenticeships and said it would offer 900 young people a week’s work experience over the life of the project. So far 58 new apprentices have been taken on and more than 400 weeks of work experience has been provided to youngsters the length and breadth of Wales.
Ken Skates, Deputy Minister for Skills and Technology, said: “I cannot emphasise just how important it is for businesses, in particular, to have access to fast, reliable broadband services to enhance their productivity and support their infrastructure.
“Since we launched Superfast Cymru a huge amount of planning and engineering work has taken place to connect our homes and businesses. Clearly, there is still a long way to go before we reach our 2016 target, but I’m delighted to hear that companies are already reporting improvements in their connectivity.
“I’m also very pleased to see that BT is well on its way to delivering on its promise to create 100 new apprenticeships and 900 work experience opportunities. This is great news for young people across Wales and gives them a foothold in the rapidly expanding telecommunications industry.”
Engineers from BT’s local network business, Openreach, will have laid around 17,500 kilometres of optical fibre cable and installed around 3,000 new fibre broadband cabinets in streets the length and breadth of Wales by the time the project is completed.
Liv Garfield, chief executive of Openreach, added: “This is an exciting journey for Wales and we are making great progress with supercharging the country’s broadband speeds.
“This project is already enabling businesses in rural as well as urban communities in Wales to grow and compete on a level playing field with competitors anywhere in the world and providing a myriad of opportunities for families to explore new horizons and applications that will enrich their lives.
“This is a complex project that has required meticulous planning and hard work, but we have been working closely with the Welsh Government and our efforts are now really starting to pay off.”
Bangor was the first community to go live in February as part of the Superfast Cymru project and other communities in North West Wales, including Caernarfon, Menai Bridge, Porthmadog and Pwllheli, have followed with more to come in that area and in other parts of Wales in the near future.
North Wales business Cwmni Da was quick to take advantage of fibre broadband and is now reaping the benefits. The TV production, company based in Caernarfon, was switched on in May and senior designer Iestyn Lloyd explained: “It has transformed our business and production has gone through the roof.
“We often had to travel to other premises to download files, seriously impacting on our schedules. Now we are now getting average download speeds of 60Mbps download and significantly increased upload speeds – so fast, in fact, that there are no interruptions in the day, no time is lost and we can offer a better service to our customers.”
Fibre broadband provides speeds many times faster than previously available in these communities with ultra-fast broadband providing an even bigger improvement should businesses require it.
The high-speed network installed by Openreach will be available on an equal, wholesale basis to all companies providing broadband services to homes and businesses.
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
When coupled with BT’s commercial roll-out, 860,000 homes and businesses in Wales are expected to have access to fibre broadband by the end of June 2014.
Communities already enabled or due to be enabled by the end of the year
Abercynon, Aberdyfi, Abersoch, Abertillery, Amlwch, Bangor, Barmouth, Bedlinog. Bethesda, Blaenau Ffestiniog, Blaina, Brynmawr, Brynsiencyn, Caernarfon, Cemaes Bay, Chwilog, Clydach, Clynnogfawr, Corwen, Criccieth, Cwm, Dinas Mawddwy, Dolgellau, Dyffryn, Ebbw Vale, Fairbourne, Ferndale, Gaerwen, Garn Dolbenmaen, Gwalchmai, Harlech, Hirwaun, Holywell, Llanbedrog, Llanberis, Llandderfel, Llangefni, Llanwnda, Maentwrog, Menai Bridge, Mountain Ash, Nefyn, Ogmore Valley, Pennal, Penrhyndeudraeth, Pentraeth, Pentyrch, Penygroes, Y Felinheli, Porth, Porthmadog, Pwllheli, Rhiwderin, Sealand, Tredegar, Tywyn, Waunfawr.
Communities scheduled to be enabled by end of spring 2014
Abergynolwyn, Aberystwyth, Bala, Beaumaris, Beddgelert, Bishopston, Bodorgan, Bonvilston, Botwnnog, Caergwrle, Corris, Cowbridge, Dinas Powys, Ffestiniog, Flint, Gower, Gowerton, Haverfordwest, Holyhead, Johnston, Llanbedr, Llanerchymedd, Llanfaethlu, Llangoed, Llanuwchllyn, Llithfaen, Llanwern, Machynlleth, Maesteg, Mayals, Merthyr Tydfil, Milford Haven, Moelfre, Mold West, Monmouth, Mostyn, Newborough, Neyland, Northop. Pembroke, Penclawdd, Penhow, Penmaen, Peterstone-super-Ely, Pontybodkin, Rhiw, Rhoose, Rhosneigr, Rhydymain, Southerndown, St Athan, Sully, Tonyrefail, Trawsfynydd, Trearddur Bay, Treforest, Treharris,Treorchy, Tyn-y-Gongl, Valley, Wick, Ynysowen, Ynysbwl.
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 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.
