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Welsh minister unveils next generation broadband called ‘Superfast Cymru’

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V&D Bureau
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Homes and businesses in parts of Bangor will be the first in Wales to get high-speed fibre broadband as part of the multi-million pound 'Superfast Cymru' project.

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The project, a partnership between the Welsh Government and BT, will take fibre broadband the length and breadth of Wales, to areas not covered by the private sector's commercial plans.

Welsh Government business minister, Edwina Hart today unveiled Superfast Cymru's first new fibre broadband cabinet. It was installed in high street, Bangor, and will serve hundreds of homes and businesses in the area. The first of those could be reaping the benefits as early as the spring.

Further street cabinets are also now being installed in other parts ofthe city as the roll-out gathers pace. Engineers will ultimately lay around 17,500 kilometres of optical fibre cable and install around 3,000 new fibre broadband cabinets in streets the length and breadth of Wales.

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"Superfast Cymru will transform the broadband landscape across Wales, making this country one of the most connected in Europe. High-speed broadband is essential to ensure households have access to the services and opportunities provided by the latest digital technologies," said Edwina Hart.

"Access to next-generation broadband is also vital to businesses across Wales, helping them to become more efficient and competitive. This investment demonstrates our commitment to supporting the Welsh economy and investing in the infrastructure it needs to flourish. It is also heartening to see the number of apprentices being employed through this project, providing vital employment opportunities for young people in these difficult economic times," commented Hart.

Mike Galvin, Openreach managing director of network investment, added "We have been working closely with the Welsh Government and a huge amount of preparation and planning has gone on to get us to where we are today, to a position where we expect to have the first customers connected as part of Superfast Cymru in the spring."

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This investment will involve Openreach working in communities throughout Wales to make high speed fibre broadband a reality added Galvin.

Bangor is amongst the first eight locations announced by the Welsh Government and BT set to benefit from the partnership, along with Caernarfon, Dolgellau, Menai Bridge, Porthmadog, Pwllheli, Ebbw Vale and Tredegar.

Superfast Cymru is the largest partnership of its kind in the UK and will help the Welsh Government achieve its aim of taking high speed broadband to 96 percent of Welsh homes and businesses. Fibre broadband provides speeds that are many times faster than those available today with ultra-fast broadband providing an even bigger uplift should businesses require it.

The high-speed network installed by Openreach will be available on an equal, wholesale basis to all companies providing broadband services to homes and businesses.

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