AM questions broadband contract delay

The Superfast Cymru project from the Welsh Government, has already ploughed millions into providing 733,000 premises with fibre broadband across the country.

It has been a year since the end of the first phase of the project, and last week the government announced that the second phase of the scheme would be carried out by Openreach.

However Montgomeryshire AM Russell George, who has been long pressing for continued improvements to broadband in the region, has asked why it has taken a year for the contract to be awarded.

He said: "It is welcome news that the contract for phase two of the Welsh Government's Superfast Cymru programme has finally been announced but it's beyond me why it's taken the best part of a year for them to award this contract to Openreach.

"It is right to say that Superfast Cymru has delivered fibre broadband to those who would have never received it without public intervention. Indeed, it's fantastic news that 27% of premises in rural Montgomeryshire can receive "fibre to the premises" which delivers ultra-fast broadband speeds directly to people's homes and businesses

"However, the digital divide between the "haves" and the "have nots" has widened and since February 2018, the rollout of fibre broadband to the significant minority of premises which remain left in the lurch has totally ground to a halt as we have eagerly awaited the award and implementation of phase two.

"There should have been a seamless transition between phase one and two of the scheme but almost a year has gone by which has added to the frustration of people who remain without any broadband at all, not alone high speed broadband."

As part of the new deal, Openreach will provide faster broadband for around 10,000 extra premises across rural Wales.

The government said in a statement last week that premises across the country would not have had access to faster broadband without intervention of the Welsh Government.

Mr George has said he will continue to probe the government until all people in Montgomeryshire have access to high speed broadband.

He added: "Broadband is now considered the fourth utility, is an essential part of modern life and is no longer a "nice to have" luxury.

"It is also essential for a thriving Mid Wales economy so from my perspective, I will keep asking probing questions of the Welsh Government and Openreach until such time as all people in Montgomeryshire are able to benefit from the same high speed broadband which is enjoyed and taken for granted by people in more urban areas of Wales."