Monday, March 14th, 2011

Local AMs welcome Next Generation Broadband announcement

LOCAL AMs WELCOME NEXT GENERATION BROADBAND ANNOUNCEMENT

Plaid Cymru politicians Rhodri Glyn Thomas AM and Nerys Evans AM have welcomed the launch of the formal procurement process announced by the Deputy First Minister which will lead to all of Wales having a first class broadband network.

Plaid’s Ieuan Wyn Jones AM noted that the Welsh Government has set a target for all businesses to have access to Next Generation broadband by mid-2016, and all households by 2020 – ahead of European targets.

A number of communities in Carmarthenshire have already benefited from Phase One of the Welsh Government’s Broadband scheme.  The Welsh Government’s RIBS (Regional Innovative Broadband Support) project has helped 8,500 premises in Wales gain access to broadband including homes in the villages of Bronwydd, Llanpumsaint,Cynwyl Elfed and Llanfynydd.

Mr. Thomas and Ms. Evans said they were now looking forward to seeing more communities in the county benefiting.

Rhodri Glyn Thomas said:

“Some areas of the county are not able to access Broadband services at all, let alone a minimum speed of 30Mbps which the Welsh Government is delivering.

“A number of communities in the Carmarthen East & Dinefwr constituency have already benefited from the investment made by Ieuan Wyn Jones.  This investment is vital to boosting the rural economy and to enable our small businesses to grow.

“In today’s society, access to a high-speed Broadband service is a right, not a privilege.  Plaid in Government recognises this and will ensure that not one part of Wales is left out.

Chair of the Cross Party Group for Broadband in Rural Wales Nerys Evans  added:

“This is excellent news and shows how committed the One Wales Government is to ensure that all communities in Wales has access to effective broadband. The local campaigns we’ve supported in villages such as Bronwydd and Llanpumsaint were very successful and have made a huge difference to individuals and businesses.  One local business owner recently told me that he saved £4,000 in one morning just because he had access to an effective broadband service.  We now need to make sure that Carmarthenshire benefits once more from this new scheme.

“Top broadband links are vital for developing the knowledge economy, improving the ability of businesses and individuals to network and innovate.  A lack of broadband at the moment seriously affects the local economy.  Local companies are telling me that it’s impossible for them to communicate effectively or purchase goods online while working parents say that it’s impossible for them to work from home.  It’s essential that businesses are fully equipped with first-class ICT infrastructure to compete successfully in a global market and hopefully this next phase  will once again allow communities in rural areas to do just that.”

ENDS / DIWEDD

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