Wales UK Reveals Autumn 2015 BT “Fibre Broadband” Rollout Plan

The Superfast Cymru project has this morning announced the next batch of communities that, from September 2015 onwards, will be upgraded to support BT’s “fast fibre broadband” (FTTC/P) network. The announcement means that related work is now effectively planned to take place in every telephone exchange across Wales.

At present the current goal is to make BTOpenreach’s fibre based broadband speeds available to 96% of Wales by the end of spring 2016, although the Welsh Government still won’t confirm precisely what proportion can expect to actually receive so-called “superfast” download speeds of 24Mbps+.

Never the less the project has already helped an additional 230,000 premises to gain access to the new service, although no firm information about take-up of the BDUK connected coverage has been published.

Ann Beynon, BT Director for Wales, said:

“This is big news for Wales as people will now know when work will start for every single telephone exchange in Wales. It’s probably the biggest engineering programme Wales has seen in the last ten years with the potential to improve the lives of individuals, families and businesses across Wales.

Through BT’s own commercial roll-out and now with Superfast Cymru we are taking world class speeds the length and breadth of Wales. I’m particularly proud of our engineers who are working incredibly hard in often very rural and challenging areas to bring the benefits of superfast broadband to Wales.”

New Communities (work is set to begin by the end of September 2015)
Gwynedd: Aberdaron
Conwy: Capel Curig, Dolgarrog, Dolwen, Llanfairtalhaiarn, Llangernyw, Penmachno, Pentrefoelas
Denbighshire: Llannefydd, Nantglyn,
Carmarthenshire: Brechfa, Dryslwyn, Gwynfe, Madox, Rhandirmwyn
Flintshire: Saughall
Monmouthshire: Crucorney, Dingestow, Ponrilas, Shirenewton, Skenfrith, Tintern, Trelleck, Wolvesnewton
Pembrokeshire: Angle, Castle Martin, Clarbeston, Cynghordy, Llanteg, Llawhaden, Maenclochog, Martletwy, Puncheston, Rhos, St Nicholas
Powys: Beguildy, Llananno, Llangunllo, Llanwddyn, Painscastle, Pantydwr
Wrexham: Llanarmon Dyffryn-Ceiriog

Overall the programme will require the installation of 3,000 new street cabinets and around 17,500kms of fibre optic cable. It should also be said that the Government’s Broadband Delivery UK (BDUK) programme has provisionally allocated an additional £12.11m to help Wales extend the reach of fixed line superfast broadband coverage, which is currently being consulted upon.