IT Business
Wales granted £46.9m extra for superfast broadband
90 percent of region could access superfast broadband if Welsh Government matches funding
By Anh Nguyen | Computerworld UK | Published 16:20, 12 July 11
The UK government has increased the amount of superfast broadband funding for Wales to £56.9 million. The amount includes the £10 million that Chancellor George Osborne allocated to Pwllheli in February.
“If the Welsh Government matches our investment, 90 per cent of the country’s homes and businesses will have access to superfast broadband,” said culture secretary Jeremy Hunt.
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Ofcom last week launched an Ofcom interactive map (pictured) depicting fixed broadband speeds across the UK, which highlighted Wales’ plight.
Most of Wales was given the worst score, of 5, on Ofcom’s broadband metrics.
Welsh Assembly ministers have 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.
Meanwhile, the government hopes for the UK to have the “best” superfast broadband network in Europe by 2015, with everyone having access to at least 2Mbps broadband speeds, and 90 percent of homes and businesses in every local authority area having access to superfast broadband, at 24 Mbps or above.
Ofcom recently revealed that it is exploring the potential for supplying rural broadband over FM radio waves that have been freed-up by the switch from analogue to digital radio in the UK.
