Wales BDUK Fibre Rollout Reaches 100,000 Properties
BDUK-backed Superfast Cymru plans to reach 690,000 homes and businesses by March 2015
More than 100,000 homes and businesses not covered by the commercial rollout of fibre in Wales can now receive superfast broadband as part of the government-backed Superfast Cymru project, the government has announced.
Superfast Cymru aims to ensure that 96 percent of all properties in Wales are covered by fibre by March 2015 and claims that upon completion of the project, 690,000 homes and businesses will benefit.
Communities already benefiting from the rollout include Blaenau Ffestiniog, Criccieth, Fairbourne, Harlech, Llanberis, Penygroes, Penrhyndeudraeth and Tywyn in the north, and Brynmawr, Clydach and Rhiwderin in the south, and a host of other locations will be added to the network over the next 15 months.
Wales BDUK
“Superfast Broadband has something for everyone, and it’s brilliant news that more than 100,000 Welsh homes and businesses are already gaining real social and commercial advantages as a result of the nationwide rollout,” says culture secretary Maria Miller.
The government has provided £57 million through the Broadband Delivery UK (BDUK) initiative, while the Welsh government has invested £58 million and BT’s contribution, including its commercial investment, to the rollout of fibre in Wales is believed to be £220 million. However there are calls for even more money to be earmarked for use in rural networks.
“Today’s announcement marks a significant leap forward in our efforts to ensure Wales has a broadband network fit for the digital age,” says Welsh secretary David Jones.” In addition to the funding already committed, this Government announced in December that a further £10million would be made available to address those areas not set to benefit from current broadband roll-out across the UK.
“I have recently met with the Culture Secretary and the Communications Minister to make the case for Wales to receive a fair share of the additional funding on offer.”
Last month, the government boasted that 200,000 premises now had access to superfast broadband thanks to BDUK and promised that 25,000 homes and businesses would be added to the network every week.
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