More Welsh users to get faster broadband

The past few months have brought news of broadband upgrades all over the country, as part of the Broadband Delivery UK program that was launched by the government. The goal of BDUK is to provide the entire country with universal broadband access of at least 2Mbps. The program is also pushing for next-generation broadband access to at least ninety percent of the UK by the year 2015.

Many users are clamouring for superfast broadband access, and for good reason. Superfast broadband is defined as “having a potential headline access speed of at least 20Mb, with no upper limit.”

Over 130,000 homes and business establishments in Wales will be able to have access to faster connections by summer of next year. This includes communities such as Aberystwyth, Denbigh, Llanidloes, Milford Haven, Monmouth and Treorchy. These areas will be included in BT Broadband’s list of areas to upgrade for their next-generation broadband services. Because of BT’s investment, these areas will have access to speeds of up to 20Mbps. This is twice as fast as the available speed that users were able to access previously.

The next-generation technology has already been made available to over half of the homes in Wales, fifty-two percent to be specific. This is to rise to seventy-one percent by summer of 2012.

The senior director Consumer Focus Wales, Maria Battle, said: “The growing availability of online services makes it vitally important for consumers in Wales to have access to faster broadband – which is why this announcement is welcome. No-one should be unable to access services many people already take for granted just because of where they live.”

She added: “It is also pleasing to see the list of areas includes so many rural and valleys communities where consumers have often been unable to access the best deals and online services.”

The BT director for Wales, Ann Beynon, also commented: “BT’s roll-out of faster broadband across Wales is running at a very rapid pace. Earlier this month we announced plans to make super-fast fibre-based broadband available to 475,000 homes and businesses in Wales by the end of next year. Now we are able to confirm a further major investment in faster broadband speeds over copper lines.

Source – Wales Online