Welsh broadband rollout needs rural focus

The CLA has welcomed the confirmed broadband roll-out in Wales, despite concerns that more than 100,000 people could be left out.

The largest broadband project in the UK, the £425m agreement is being rolled out by BT and will mean 96% of Welsh homes and businesses will have broadband by the end of 2015.

However, the Welsh government has not said what will happen to the 120,000 who will be left out, despite UK government promises that all homes and businesses will have some kind of broadband connection by 2015.

“We welcome this announcement. But BT need to be held to account on the delivery of broadband in rural areas. And they need to concentrate their initial efforts on areas that have no broadband,” said CLA Wales director Ben Underwood.