Work gets underway on new high speed broadband network for Wales

Work has started to cring super fast broadband to Wales, Business Minister Edwina Hart has announced.

In a statement to Assembly Members last week, Mrs Hart said the Welsh Government’s Superfast Cymru programme partner BT has started work on the roll-out of the scheme.

She said: “The Superfast Cymru programme is set to transform the broadband landscape in Wales and to promote economic growth and sustainable jobs in Wales. 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.

“State aid approval has now been granted by the UK Government, allowing us to complete the Major Project Notification process to secure European Regional Development Fund structural funding worth £80million. Our project partner BT has now also officially started work on the roll-out of the programme.”

The Minister added: “BT had already made considerable progress to prepare for the programme, including engagement with planning and highways authorities across Wales. A roll-out plan has been prepared which takes into account the local demographics and cartography of Wales, together with the Welsh Government’s economic priorities, including the Enterprise Zones and the Powys local growth zone.”

The fibre broadband roll-out will start in 14 unitary authorities during 2013/14. They are Blaenau Gwent, Bridgend, Caerphilly, Denbighshire, Flintshire, Gwynedd, Isle of Anglesey, Merthyr Tydfil, Neath Port Talbot, Newport, Powys, Rhondda Cynon Taff, Swansea and Vale of Glamorgan.

Roll-out will be underway in all unitary authorities by 2014/15.

The new fibre optic network could see download speeds of up to 80Mbps, with ultra-fast broadband providing even faster speeds should businesses need it.