What plans and funding are in place to ensure that ageing copper telephone and broadband cables are upgraded or replaced with fibre connections within south Wales to ensure sufficient capacity for all households?
The telecommunications industry continues to deploy gigabit capable broadband across Wales.
Responsibility for improving broadband and mobile phone connectivity in Wales where the market does not reach rests with the UK Government. The UK Government Project Gigabit has announced that it is scheduled to deliver full fibre connectivity across parts of Wales: Bandwidth boost for 70,000 homes and businesses as UK Government vows to fix broadband divide in Wales - GOV.UK
Despite telecommunications not being devolved to Wales due to historic under-investment at a UK level over the past decade or more, we have helped provide access to fast and reliable broadband to over three quarters of a million premises. Our Digital strategy for Wales outlines how we will continue to use the levers at our disposal to support businesses, homes and the public sector in Wales to receive the connectivity they need.
We have developed a business case for further intervention in the broadband market to provide connectivity to those premises that cannot receive a superfast broadband service and are not covered commercially nor covered by Project Gigabit, or other public funded schemes. I will provide an update in due course.