DC13-336 September 30, 2013 SUPERFAST CYMRU: ANOTHER 151 COMMUNITIES TO BENEFIT FROM FIBRE BROADBAND Another 151 towns and villages in Wales will get high speed fibre broadband by spring 2015 as part of the Superfast Cymru roll-out, the Welsh Government and BT announced today. Information about where and when communities will get fibre over the next 18 months as a result of Superfast Cymru has been published on www.superfast-cymru.com today. Once the roll-out is completed in these communities it will mean another 206,000 homes and businesses the length and breadth of Wales will be able to access the technology which provides speeds many times faster than those available today. They will join another 120 communities in Wales either already live or due to be switched on as part of Superfast Cymru by the end of spring next year. It is expected that these two phases – which between them cover 480,000 premises - will help extend the availability of fibre broadband to around 75 per cent of Welsh homes and businesses when areas covered by the private sector are also taken into account. Superfast Cymru will help the Welsh Government achieve its overall aim of taking fibre broadband to 96 per cent of homes and businesses in Wales by the end of the project in spring 2016. The new communities announced today are in Caerphilly, Carmarthenshire, Ceredigion, Conwy, Denbighshire, Flintshire, Monmouthshire, Neath Port Talbot, Pembrokeshire, Powys and Wrexham amongst others (See complete list in Notes to Editors). Detailed information about the roll-out to spring 2015 is available on the newly updated programme website at www.superfast-cymru.com . You can also keep in touch with the programme via social media on Twitter (@superfastcymru) or Facebook at www.facebook.com/superfast-cymru . Ken Skates, Minister for Skills and Innovation, said: “The dedication of the Superfast Cymru programme is clearly illustrated through our commitment to delivering superfast fibre broadband across Wales. It is a significant step forward that we are providing our long term plans on our website to help individuals and businesses find out when they will be able to discover the benefits of superfast fibre broadband.” Ed Hunt, BT programme director for Superfast Cymru added: “We are making great progress, passing on average more than 5,000 premises a week with fibre broadband between now and the end of March 2015. Through this programme we expect to reach close to half a million by spring 2015 with a year still to go. That’s a third of all homes and businesses in Wales, and three quarters when combined with BT’s own commercial roll-out. “We know how important it is that as many people as possible can take advantage of fibre broadband. Through BT’s own commercial roll-out and now with Superfast Cymru we are taking world class speeds the length and breadth of Wales to some of the more rural as well as urban areas.” “It is vital that we do all we can to keep people in Wales as up to date as we possibly can on the roll-out and the website is a great place to get the latest details.” Openreach, BT’s local network business, is primarily deploying fibre-to-the-cabinet (FTTC) technology, where the fibre runs from the exchange to a local roadside cabinet. In addition to download speeds generally above 30 Mbps and up to 80Mbps, FTTC also delivers upload speeds of up to 20Mbps1 — and could deliver even faster speeds in the future. According to the regulator Ofcom, the current average UK residential broadband download speed is 14.7Mbps. The Superfast Cymru roll-out will significantly increase that average speed. At home, fibre broadband enables a family to simultaneously download a movie, watch a TV replay service, surf the internet and play games online all at the same time. A whole album can be downloaded in less than 30 seconds and a feature length HD movie in less than 10 minutes, whilst high-resolution photos can be uploaded to Facebook in seconds. The high-speed network installed by Openreach will be available from a number of suppliers providing broadband services to homes and businesses. ENDS Notes to Editors 1 These are the top wholesale speeds available from Openreach to all service providers; speeds offered by service providers may vary. The latest images of the Superfast Cymru roll-out are available for download at: http://imagelibrary.btplc.com/assetbank- btplc/action/browseItems?categoryId=597&categoryTypeId=1 Super-fast fibre optic broadband can be delivered as “fibre to the cabinet” (FTTC) or “fibre to the premises” (FTTP). FTTC is where the fibre connection is from the exchange to the street side cabinet with the remainder of the connection being over copper. Superfast Cymru will provide the majority of business and residential premises with the capability of accessing broadband at speeds in excess of 30Mbps by 2016. This is in line with the EU's policy of widespread Superfast broadband access by 2020. The programme will also enable access to speeds of over 100Mbps in a significant number of areas of Wales. Further information about next generation broadband is available from www.bt.com/ngb Communities scheduled to be enabled by the end of March 2015 Caerphilly: Cross Keys, Machen, Nelson, Rhymney, Risca, Senghenydd, Ynysddu Cardiff: Radyr Carmarthenshire: Amman Valley, Carmarthen, Hebron, Llanbydder, Maesycrugiau, Pencader, Pumpsaint, Upper Cwmtwrch, Velindre Conwy: Cerrigydrudion, Llanfairfechan Ceredigion: Aberaeron, Aeron, Aberporth, Borth, Bow Street, Bronant, Capel Bangor, Cardigan, Crosswood, Cwrtnewydd, Lampeter, Llanarth, Llandyssul, Llangybi, Llanilar, Llanon, Llechryd, Nebo, Newcastle Emlyn, New Quay, Ponterwyd, Ponthrydygroes, Pontrhydfendigaid, Pontshaen, Talybont, Tregaron Denbighshire: Bodfari, Bryneglwys, Cyffylliog, Denbigh, Dyserth, Glyndwr, Llanarmon-yn-Ial, Llandegla, Llandrillo, Llandyrnog, Llangollen, Llanynys, Maerdy, Rhuddlan, Ruthin, St Asaph, Trefnant Flintshire: Caerwys, Halkyn, Kinnerton, Llanferres, Gwynedd: Bontddu, Ganllwyd, Tudweiliog Neath Port Talbot: Crynant, Cymmer, Glantawe, Glynneath, Pontardawe, Resolven, Seven Sisters, Skewen Monmouthshire: Gilwern, , Magor, Nantyderry, Tredunnock Usk Pembrokeshire: Boncath, Crosswell, Crymych, Dinas Cross, Llwyndrain, Moylegrove, Newport, Powys: Abercrave, Abermule, Berriew, Brecon, Builth Wells, Bwlch, Caersws, Carno, Castle Caereinion, Church Stoke, Crickhowell, Erwood, Forden, Guilsfield, Hay-on-Wye, Hundred House, Gladestry, Kerry, Kington, Knighton, Llanbrynmair, Llanfair Caereinion, Llandrindod Wells, Llangamarch Wells, Llangurig, Llanfrynach, Llanfyllin, Llangorse, Llanidloes, Llanymynech, Newtown, Llanrhaeadr, Llansantffraid, Llanwrtyd Wells, Merthyr Cynog, Montgomery, Newbridge-on-Wye, Penybont, New Radnor, Pennant, Presteigne, Rhayader, Sennybridge, Talgarth, Talybont-on-Usk, Trefeglwys, Tregynon, Trewern, Welshpool Swansea: Llangennith Torfaen: Blaenavon, Talywain Wrexham - Bangor-on-Dee, Chirk, Dutton Diffeth, Glyn Ceiriog, Hanmer, Overton-on-Dee, Redbrook Maelor, Rossett, Rhosllanerchrugog, Ruabon ENDS Enquiries about this news release should be made to James Walsh-Heron at the Welsh Government press office on 029 20898564 or the BT Wales Press Office on 0800 085 0660 ([email protected]). All BT news releases can be accessed at: http://www.btplc.com/News. About BT BT is one of the world’s leading providers of communications services and solutions, serving customers in more than 170 countries. Its principal activities include the provision of networked IT services globally; local, national and international telecommunications services to its customers for use at home, at work and on the move; broadband and internet products and services and converged fixed/mobile products and services. BT consists principally of four lines of business: BT Global Services, BT Retail, BT Wholesale and Openreach. For the year ended 31 March 2013, BT Group’s reported revenue was £18,103m with reported profit before taxation of £2,315m. British Telecommunications plc (BT) is a wholly-owned subsidiary of BT Group plc and encompasses virtually all businesses and assets of the BT Group. BT Group plc is listed on stock exchanges in London and New York. For more information, visit www.btplc.com About the Welsh Government and Superfast Cymru The Welsh Government is the devolved Government for Wales. We are working to help improve the lives of people in Wales and make our nation a better place in which to live and work. The Welsh Government and BT are working in partnership on the 'Superfast Cymru' programme to develop a nationwide superfast broadband infrastructure. Superfast Cymru will boost commercial roll-out and help the Welsh Government achieve its target to deliver high speed fibre broadband to 96% of homes and businesses in Wales by 2016. Superfast Cymru is set to transform the broadband landscape in Wales and to promote economic growth and sustainable jobs in Wales. We have estimated that up to 2,500 further full times jobs could be created throughout the Welsh economy over time. It will ensure we are at the forefront of the global digital economy and help to champion Wales as a great place to live, work, invest and visit. About Superfast Britain Superfast Britain is a UK Government programme of investment in broadband and communication infrastructure across the UK. Run by the Department of Culture, Media and Sport, this investment helps businesses to grow, creates jobs and will make Britain more competitive in the global race. The portfolio is comprised of three elements: • £780m to extend superfast broadband to 95% of the UK by 2017 • £150m to provide high speed broadband to businesses in 22 cities • £150m to improve quality and coverage of mobile phone and basic data network services Administered on behalf of Government by Broadband Delivery UK (BDUK), Superfast Britain is transforming Britain by promoting growth, enabling skills and learning, and improving quality of life. For further information: https://www.gov.uk/broadband-delivery-uk .