Wales UK Confirms Next 66 Locations for BT Fibre Broadband by June 2015
The Superfast Cymru scheme, which is working to make faster broadband speeds of up to 80Mbps available to 96% of premises in Wales by the end of spring 2016, has today announced the next 66 new locations across 10 local authority areas that will be enabled for “high speed fibre” (FTTC) by BT in time for June 2015.
The commencement of work, which will take place earlier than expected in 35 of BT’s telephone exchange areas, is due to begin in the spring of 2015. Once this phase is completed more than 500,000 premises across Wales will be able to access faster broadband speeds (75% coverage), which will of course be extended to 96% (roughly 700,000 premises) by the final completion in 2016 (involving the installation of 3,000 green roadside cabinets and around 17,500kms of fibre optic cable).
Ed Hunt, BT Programme Director for Superfast Cymru, said:
“We are making great progress, passing on average more than 5,000 premises a week with fibre broadband between now and the end of March 2015. Through this programme we expect to reach close to half a million premises by summer 2015 with a year still to go. That’s nearly a third of all homes and businesses in Wales, and three quarters when combined with BT’s own commercial roll-out.
All exchanges in Wales are in scope of the programme and those not revealed in today’s announcement will be announced in due course.”
In addition, BT has also opened a new office in Newtown which will be “a focal point for the programmes activity in Mid and North Wales“.
Communities Scheduled to be Enabled by Late June 2015
Carmarthenshire: Ammanford, Cynwyl Elfed, Laugharne, Llanboidy, Llanddarog, Llandeilo, Llandovery, Llandybie, Llanpumsaint, Nantgaredig, Talley, Burry Port, Clynderwen, Ferryside, Kidwelly, Llangennech, Llanstephan, Pendine, Pontyates, Pontyberem, St Clears, Trimsaran, Whitland, Llangadog
Conwy: Betws- Y- Coed, Dolwyddelan, Llanrwst, Llansannan, Colwyn Bay, Penmaenmawr, Rhos-on-Sea, Tynygroes, Old Colwyn
Ceredigion: Glandyfi, Llangeitho, Llangrannog, Bancyfelin, Broadhaven, Rhydlewis
Denbighshire: Clawdd Newydd,
Monmouthshire: Cross Ash, Gobion, Little Mill, Llantilio, Raglan,
Pembrokeshire: Camrose, Carew, Croes Goch, Dale, Fishguard, Lamphey, Letterston, Manorbier, Narberth, St Davids, Treffgarne
Powys: Bucknell, Glasbury, Llangadfan, Llansilan, Meifod,, Cemmaes Road, Llyswen,
Swansea: Pontarddulais
RCT: Tonyrefail
Wrexham: Bettisfield
NOTE: The 35 exchanges being brought forward are in addition to the 6 (Cross Hands, Tenby, Saundersfoot, Abergele, Llandudno, and Aberconwy) that were announced in June 2014.
Mark is a professional technology writer, IT consultant and computer engineer from Dorset (England), he also founded ISPreview in 1999 and enjoys analysing the latest telecoms and broadband developments. Find me on Twitter, Google+, Facebook and Linkedin.
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So similar to the commercial roll out it was easier, quicker and cheaper than expected. It is will be good to see to reflected in an increased rollout for the state aid available, including increased proportion of FTTP.
We’ve not seen much on the FTTP front happening in Wales yet but hopefully BT and councils will now be more open about such developments going forward, which they seem to have been elsewhere in England. But for now it’s still FTTC’s ball game.
Hi Mark
Would not hold your breath on the FTTP when i quizzed BT in scrutiny committee they basically told me there focus is FTTC not FTTP in Wales, the councils have little to no leeway with this current program it is being managed centrally by Welsh Assembly Government.
I would not hold my breath for any significant further FTTP development from BT anywhere in the UK, or as Mark states other areas of this fine country England.
I’d never hold my breath for FTTP in Wales to any significant degree, it would be an act in losing consciousness :).
Agreed, unless Wales has some special ingredient that makes FTTP cheaper/easier to deploy I would not expect any change on the FTTP front from any telco
It’s 9th August and we are still waiting for Fibre.
I,m on Rhos-on-sea exchange getting at best 4mb