Broadband investment welcomed after thousands more are connected in Clwyd South

Clwyd South’s Member of the Senedd has praised the Welsh Government’s latest roll-out of high-speed broadband after it emerged that his constituency has seen more investment than almost every other part of Wales.

Recently published data showed that more than 44,000 extra homes and businesses are benefiting thanks to the current programme of fast full-fibre connections (from September 2019-December 2023).

According to the latest available figures from the Welsh Government, Clwyd South saw the fourth-highest number of individual connections in the programme out of the 40 Welsh constituencies.

Local Member Ken Skates said: “Clwyd South covers a huge geographical area in comparison to many other Welsh constituencies, so there remain parts where people still struggle to get a reliable internet connection.

“However, I welcome the latest investment from the Welsh Government and I know from speaking with local people that it is making a difference.

“People need these connections to run businesses, for online shopping for those who can’t get out, and keep in touch with family and friends. It’s more crucial now than ever.

“Broadband should be considered a key piece of modern infrastructure, and everyone should be able to access it.

“The responsibility for telecommunications rests with the UK Government, and I know the Welsh Government continues to press for broadband to be classed as a universal service like, for example, the postal service.

“Just as Royal Mail has to deliver letters everywhere regardless of the cost, the Welsh Government believes OpenReach should have to connect all homes.

“In the meantime, the Welsh Government has to continue using funds for the areas it is responsible for to step in where the markets and the UK Government have failed to act.”

The Welsh Government has to comply with competition law, so cannot stipulate exactly which properties should be connected.

Openreach determines which premises they can cover based on factors including value for public money, deliverable speeds and delivery timeframes.

The latest four-year project – which has now been completed – has given access to full fibre connectivity to thousands more properties than the original target of 39,000. The roll-out came in under its original budget of £57m with the help of EU funding.

The latest figures, which are still being updated, show at least 10,500 new connections in North Wales – more than 2,000 of which are in Clwyd South.

Economy Minister Vaughan Gething said: “COVID-19 has changed the way we live, work, travel and socialise, which means a fast and reliable broadband connection is more important than ever – regardless of where in the country you’re based.

“While broadband isn’t devolved, we wanted to support communities where commercial companies had no plans to install full fibre broadband infrastructure.”