Superfast Broadband Coming to Rural Areas in Wales

Now that the superfast broadband rollout spree is happening, it was only crucial that BT turned its attention to Wales, where the broadband provision is really very poor if you go by a study conducted by Ofcom.

BT has announced that another 130,000 homes and businesses from 33 communities, which include Brecon, Builth Wells, Kidwelly, Aberystwyth, Treorchy, Gilwern, Menai Bridge and Denbigh, will have access to faster broadband by the summer of 2012.

It is 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, said  Maria Battle, senior director Consumer Focus Wales.

Things are set to change for good, it seems. Last month, Wales Tourism Alliance said that lack of fast broadband was holding back companies’ ability to compete in the area. Consumer Focus Wales also said it was important have broadband access, particularly to rural areas where customers have often been unable to access the best online services.

By summer next year, as much as three quarters of homes in Wales will be provided with faster broadband.

Now BT’s investment brings speeds of up to 20 Mbps to some rural communities. Earlier, most of UK’s homes and businesses did not even have half the speed for their broadband, which is at 6.8 Mbps.

Earlier this month, the company announced it was rolling out super-fast broadband technology to 175,000 homes and businesses in Wales, with speeds of between 40 and 100Mbps.

At a time of economic uncertainty these major improvements will provide a big boost for local businesses and offer many additional educational and entertainment opportunities for local households, said Ann Beynon, BT director for Wales.