Businesses in Wales look set to benefit after ZyXEL UK, a broadband access solutions provider, and ISP Carrier Wales (CW) teamed up to help deliver fibre optic 'uncontended' connectivity with services from 10Mb to 1Gb to businesses across the country. CW also adds WiMAX wireless broadband technology on to the end of their 'hardwired network, allowing high-speed Internet that can reach out to more remote rural communities.

Carrier Wales makes use of ZyXEL's Metro switches in the core and at the edge of the network to interconnect with FibreSpeed, NTL/TeleWest (Virgin Media), BT Openreach and other Next Generation Network (NGN) providers.


Carrier Wales has already launched its WiMAX based service in several locations including Deeside, Sandycroft, Broughton, Ewloe and the Flintshire coast. Plans are also afoot to extend the service to include Mold, St Asaph, The Wrexham Industrial Estate and Liverpool town centre.

At the time of writing North Wales remains the ISPs primary roll-out focus, with deployment being conducted "on a demand led basis". Despite the use of WiMAX their website currently only touts a 2Mbps (£249.00 +vat per month) and 5Mbps (£399.00 +vat) service. A 12 month connection charge of £695.00 is also applicable, which reduces to £349.00 if you sign-up for 36 months.