Neil Hamilton, MS for Mid & West Wales, and Leader of UKIP Wales has welcomed news of a new initiative aimed at increasing fibre broadband in rural areas.
Mr Hamilton, a member of the Climate Change, Environment and Rural Affairs committee, is now urging those living in Ceredigion, Carmarthenshire and Pembrokeshire to sign up for the ‘Broadband Upgrade Fund’.
He said: “At last Welsh Government is taking steps to improve broadband coverage in Mid & West Wales. This is long overdue. My constituents have been consistently failed by the Government and have had to suffer long enough.
“I am delighted that counties in my Region have been chosen as one of only three rural areas in the UK for this campaign. Increased demand for fast, reliable internet connectivity has never been so evident than in the past few months as we see a greater reliance on online services as so many more people work from home.
“I have continually raised the issue of slow or non-existent broadband coverage in so many parts of Mid & West Wales. Steps to improve internet connection in rural areas are long overdue and I just hope the pilot scheme will provide an opportunity for both businesses and residents to take action to solve their connectivity issues.
“The UK Government’s own minimum acceptable download level is 10 Mbps, but still thousands of people in Powys, and the rest of Mid & West suffer average speeds of less than half that. This is totally unacceptable in the second decade of the 21st century.
“I just hope this new trial will bring some relief to those who are trying to run a business in these worst affected areas, and to householders who struggle to get a connection.”
Last month the UK Government launched the pilot scheme as part of its existing Rural Gigabit Voucher Scheme to make it easier for residents and businesses to demonstrate the demand for the installation of fibre enabled broadband.
The ‘Broadband Upgrade Fund’ aims to support businesses, employees and rural communities to take advantage of all the benefits associated with faster and more reliable internet connections
Registering alone will not guarantee that fibre installation will follow, but the more properties that register, the more likely a commercial supplier will recognise demand and take up the opportunity to complete the installation of fibre broadband in the area.
UK Government Digital Infrastructure Minister, Matt Warman, said: ”Better broadband enhances people’s lives and the government is making it easier for rural communities to access the economic and social benefits of gigabit-capable broadband. Those suffering with slow internet speeds can receive a significant contribution towards the costs of getting quicker and more reliable internet connections into their homes or businesses through this initiative. I urge people to sign up to find out if they’re eligible for this next-generation broadband boost.”
It comes as new research finds that reliable broadband can play a key role in keeping people connected during COVID-19. Almost six in ten (58%) Ceredigion broadband-using residents surveyed say the internet has played an important part in helping combat feelings of isolation or loneliness during lockdown.
During lockdown two thirds (67%) of all broadband-using, working respondents in Ceredigion worked from home all or most of the time, but almost half (46%) were at times frustrated at an unreliable internet connection. Four in ten (40%) claim they would be able to do their job better if they had a faster internet connection.
Better and more reliable broadband should be especially helpful in Ceredigion, where four in ten (40%) said the quality of their video calls whilst working from home were ‘frequently poor’ because of their internet connection and 31% have struggled to join or dropped out of virtual meetings.
To find out more and to register, residents and SMEs should visit the Broadband Upgrade Fund Campaign website.
