Wales gears up for super-fast broadband

Parts of Wales are getting prepared for the installation of super-fast broadband services from BT.

Cardiff and Taffs Well will see 16,000 premises upgraded as part of a £1.5 billion investment from the firm.

Ann Beynon, BT director for Wales, said this is "the latest vital step in ensuring that Wales benefits from exciting, leading-edge technology capable of delivering a wide range of innovative new applications".

She noted that Wales is at the forefront of broadband innovations in the UK.

Download speeds of up to 40Mbps will be provided to local residents, with BT suggesting that this could be increased to 60Mbps in the future.

In a recent article, the Business, Innovation and Skills Committee supported the government's focus on the digital economy and the need to increase broadband speeds.

It did, however, cast doubts over the fairness of the proposed 50p monthly levy on fixed lines and the lack of a definition surrounding the proposed 2Mbps Universal Service Commitment.

Posted by Martin Ellis