Faster broadband speeds for 83,000

Superfast Cymru was set up by the Welsh Government to increase fast broadband, and now almost 81,000 of the premises can achieve speeds of at least 30Mbps.

Now remote areas of Wales have the highest speeds in the UK for remote areas.

Leader of the House at the Welsh Government, Julie James said the whole thing has been a big success, and the government is proud of what it has achieved.

One Powys business benefitting from superfast broadband is Geo Smart Decisions based at the Dyfi Eco Park, Machynlleth.

The consultancy business uses satellite technology to inform global companies on decisions regarding the siting of major infrastructure projects. It benefits from fibre to the premises superfast broadband at the Eco Park.

For Geo Smart Decisions, the new connection has enabled projects to be completed in record time.

The company’s recent mapping of geo-data along the route of a proposed gas pipeline in east Africa, which involved downloading and analysing a series of 30 high-res satellite images – was completed at least three times faster than would otherwise have been possible.

Miss James said: “Superfast Cymru has undoubtedly been a success and has delivered a real step change in the availability of superfast broadband across the whole country. Of all those with access in Wales over half are as a result of our intervention – that in itself shows the positive impact this programme has had.

“Whole local authority areas would have been untouched by superfast broadband rollout without Superfast Cymru - now there is not one local authority area without access.

Innovative

"Wales has some of the highest speeds in the UK in remote areas with the use of Fibre to the Premises.

“Deploying broadband at this scale and pace in the Welsh landscape, particularly rural areas, has proved extremely challenging and innovative solutions have had to be used at times such as drones.

“While the programme has successfully changed the digital landscape in Wales, I am very aware that there remain premises without access and we are now working on how to reach these.”

Kim Mears, managing director for Openreach, said also said the challenges have been big due to the layout of Wales, but insisted there is a better broadband connection now than some major European countries.

She added: "Wales can confidently claim to having better superfast broadband coverage than Germany, France, Spain and Italy, but we’re also mindful that some communities are still waiting to gain access to better connections.

"We’re more determined than any other business to reach these remaining areas and we’ll continue to offer a solution through our Community Fibre Partnership programme.

"We’re also committed to exploring the alternatives with Welsh Government to make decent broadband a reality for all.”