Wales broadband gets go-ahead from Brussels
The government’s rural broadband scheme to roll out high-speed broadband to homes and businesses in Wales received a boost with EU approval.
The government’s plans to roll-out high speed broadband to homes and businesses in Wales received a boost yesterday (20 November), following EU approval of the rural broadband scheme.
This announcement gives the green light to begin the superfast broadband roll-out, utilising the £57 million that the UK government announced in 2011 for the Welsh rural broadband investment fund.
The Welsh government has matched this investment, as well as securing European Structural Funds (ERDF) and private sector investment, and must now begin the roll-out of broadband across the country.
Wales Office minister Stephen Crabb welcomed the announcement:
This investment is part of the government’s on-going commitment to deliver the best superfast broadband network to Wales. It will enable essential work to make broadband 15 times faster by 2015, creating growth, jobs and economic prosperity. I urge the Welsh government to work with the UK government and Broadband Delivery UK to drive forward with the plans for Wales and to deliver on this commitment.