‘Who’ll fix our broadband?’
THE broadband connection on parts of a Cwmbach housing estate is so bad, you can’t even open emails, according to one resident.
But people can’t get a straight answer as to who should sort it out.
A RESIDENT from a Cynon Valley housing development says he hasn’t been able to get a broadband connection for three years – and that the internet connection is so bad he can’t even open emails.
Christopher Stephens, of Coed Dyffryn in Cwmbach, says he and other residents have been affected by infrastructure problems – and that he can’t get to the bottom of whether it’s developer Persimmon Homes or broadband provider BT Openreach who is responsible to fix it.
He has discussed the issue with Cynon Valley AM Vikki Howells, who says residents have found their new homes haven’t been provided with adequate broadband services.
She says the housing developer says it is the responsibility of BT Openreach to fix the issue, but BT Openreach says the fault lies with Persimmon.
Mr Stephens, who says the connection causes him difficulties in his personal and business matters, said: “As residents we feel that there has been ample time to discuss such a simple matter but the two sides cannot agree and have stalled for over three years while hundreds of residents suffer and are paying full prices to their Internet provider.
“We feel both BT Openreach and Persimmon have operated under the pretence of discussing and resolving matters but, as the last three years have shown, nothing is ever done about it.”
Ms Howells said that a ruling by communications watchdog Ofcom that BT must establish its Openreach division, which runs the UK broadband infrastructure, as a distinct company, offers a chance to resolve the matter.
The AM said: “I recently saw how farmers in the most remote parts of Snowdonia are using the Internet to market their businesses.
“When they can do this, it is ludicrous that residents living on a new housing development just over 20 miles from the capital cannot have a broadband service.
“It is simply unacceptable that my constituents, living on a new housing estate in an urban area, aren’t able to access highspeed broadband in their homes, causing difficulties with work, study and even leisure opportunities.
“Ofcom’s decision to separate out Openreach offers us a new chance to bring Permission and BT Openreach together and fix this for my constituents.”
BT Openreach and Persimmon Homes East Wales have been asked to comment on the issue.