Julie James, Deputy Minister for Skills and Technology
This was published under the 2011 to 2016 administration of the Welsh Government
I am writing to inform Members on the progress of superfast broadband roll-out under the Superfast Cymru project.
Since its inception in 2013, the Superfast Cymru project has set about transforming the broadband landscape in Wales, assisting in economic growth and sustainable jobs across the country.
The project continues to bring superfast broadband connectivity (30Mbps and above) to areas which would not otherwise have received it including many covering our rural communities. Wales now sees the highest availability of access to superfast broadband speeds amongst the devolved nations.
To date the Superfast Cymru project has provided access to superfast broadband speeds to over 565,000 residential and business homes across all 22 local authorities in Wales, with a 25% take-up of enabled cabinets in situ for 12 months and over.
(Table at Annex 1)
Over £159million has been invested in the roll-out of superfast broadband under Superfast Cymru which has resulted in over 73% of total eligible premises across Wales receiving accesses to fibre-speed broadband connectivity,
In addition, the Superfast Cymru project has also seen an extension to the original contract, to cover an additional 42,000 premises, identified through an open market review process, not originally scheduled for roll-out under the project or commercial exercise.
The project will continue the delivery of access to superfast broadband speeds across Wales over the coming months until its conclusion in 2017.