Speeding up but some still left in digital slow lane

Ofcom report shows still a digital divide in North Wales

NINETY four per cent of homes in Wales can now get superfast broadband – but pockets of mainly rural areas remain in the slow lane.

Ofcom’s Connected Nations 2020 Wales report found a one per cent rise in those getting superfast, while 19% (265,400) of homes in Wales have access to full-fibre connections – an increase of 7%, and Ultrafast coverage has increased from 31% to 37% (59% UK).

Mobile coverage shows 90% of Wales has access to good 4G geographic coverage from at least one of the mobile operators and 60% has coverage from all 4 operators.

These improvements in digital networks have been crucial over the last year as many staff have been working from home – along with school pupils for many months.

But there remains a digital divide with constituencies like Dwyfor Meirionnydd in Gwynedd among the worst served in the UK and Anglesey also lagging.

In Dwyfor Meirionnydd just under 83% of homes can get superfast broadband (30 Mbit/s or above), with 88% on Anglesey.

It compares to nearly 96% in Wrexham and 95% in Alyn and Deeside.

Plaid Cymru MP for Dwyfor Meirionnydd Liz Saville Roberts said: “These figures once again reaffirm the disproportionate divide between those areas which can access superfast broadband and those rural communities, such as those which I represent, which fall short of achieving the Government’s own baseline download speed of 10Mb/s.

“Although some areas have seen improvements, many of my constituents remain unable to access what Ofcom recognises as the speed necessary to deliver an acceptable user experience; required for basic usage such as browsing, streaming and video calling – all essential things during lockdown.”

Plaid Cymru Senedd candidate for Dwyfor Meirionnydd Mabon ap Gwynfor added: “Good Broadband – greater than 30mb/s – is no longer a luxury, it’s one of life’s essentials.

“Work, education, businesses, shopping and more are done online.

“Openreach seem to be deciding on whether or not communities should get access to superfast based on affordability, but this was never a consideration when ensuring that water and electricity was being supplied, and it should be the same with broadband as well.

“No community and no household should be left behind, and it’s the Government’s job to ensure that essential services are available to all.”

A spokesman for Openreach said: “We’re proud of the work that our engineers have done throughout Gwynedd and the rest of Wales to bring fibre broadband to the country.

“As of today nearly 90 per cent of Gwynedd can place an order for superfast broadband as a result of our work but we realise there’s more to do.

“No other provider is doing more than Openreach to build fibre broadband across Gwynedd.

“We’re investing £12billion of our own money to bring full fibre to both urban and rural parts of the country and we’re also working with the Welsh Government to try and reach those areas that missed out during previous build plans.

“We agree that no community or household should be left alone and this requires a sector wide approach with both private and public investment.

“We would urge any community that are currently out of scope for any rural fibre build – as was the case with Llanymawddwy in Gwynedd – to work with us as part of our Community Fibre Partnership scheme where the cost of the entire build can often be covered by Government vouchers.”

Superfast figures for constituencies in North Wales

Arfon: 92.7 Aberconwy: 92.7% Clwyd West: 89.8% Vale of Clwyd: 94.9% Dwyfor Meirionnydd: 82.9 Clwyd South: 91.0% Wrexham: 95.7%

Alyn and Deeside: 95% Delyn: 92.4%

Ynys Mon: 88.3%