Montgomeryshire AM Mick Bates has slammed BT for ignoring the needs of Mid Wales following a recent announcement that seven exchanges in Wales will be upgraded to a super-fast fibre based broadband connection before summer 2011 under BT’s £1.5billion expansion, with none in Powys or Ceredigion where many individuals and businesses still receive extremely slow broadband, dial-up or no internet connection at all.
Following a misleading briefing by BT which outlined plans for an expansion of super-fast broadband in Wales, stating that ‘seven more exchanges will be upgraded with fibre-based broadband before summer 2011, in Connah’s Quay and Hawarden in North Wales, and Bridgend, Llantrisant, Hengoed, Newtown, Llantwit and Chepstow in the south’, it was reported that the exchange in Newtown Powys was listed for upgrade.
It has since been uncovered that there are no plans to increase super-fast fibre access to Newtown in Powys or any exchange in Mid Wales before March 2011 under the latest phase for delivery. Montgomeryshire AM Mick Bates is calling for a summit as it becomes clear that Mid Wales has once again been left behind by BT plans for broadband expansion.
Mr Bates comments:
“I am deeply disappointed that Mid Wales is once again being left behind by the digital revolution, following the announcement that seven exchanges will be upgraded with fibre-based broadband before summer 2011, with none in Mid Wales. This proves that both the Welsh Government and BT are so South-Wales centric that no exchange in rural Mid Wales will benefit from the £1.5billion expansion.
“It is unacceptable that in rural areas we are still struggling with a second class service, receiving the minimum of internet speeds, often with only a dial-up access or no internet connection at all. This division puts businesses and individuals at a disadvantage, unable to access many online services and facilities or even comply with new regulations, such as the new HMRC requirement for small businesses to file their VAT returns online.
“It’s high time that the Labour-Plaid Government acted on their commitment to improve broadband in rural areas and publicise their plans to bring super-fast fibre infrastructure to Mid Wales. I’m calling on the Welsh Government to arrange a summit in Mid Wales, to outline exactly how it plans to ensure that rural areas are no longer ignored and will receive a high bandwidth, affordable data communications infrastructure, so that both rural and urban areas can prosper from the benefits that super-fast broadband can bring.”
