Welsh to receive EU broadband cash

The European Commission has approved additional funding to narrow the “digital divide” between areas of Wales with broadband and those without. Broadband availability has now reached approximately 98% of Wales, but there are 35 areas which still have no access to the service.

The subsidy is co-financed by the EU and the Welsh Assembly Government, and was assessed by Brussels to ensure that it did not infringe competition rules.

In 2002, the assembly government launched a £115m programme to provide broadband infrastructure across all of Wales by March 2007. The Regional Innovative Broadband Support (RIBS) programme aimed to enhance the take-up of affordable broadband by individuals, communities, businesses and public sector organisations.

The extra funding for the programme will enable broadband to be brought to the 35 areas where it is currently unavailable and tenders to provide the service will be invited from Internet service providers.

Broadband take-up is increasingly rapidly across Wales – a survey for the assembly government’s broadband unit found that 75% of small and medium enterprises in Wales were now accessing broadband.

According to BT, over 200,000 homes and businesses in Wales have telephone-based broadband services.

Economic Development Minister Andrew Davies said “Through the RIBS project we are seeking to bridge the digital divide and help future-proof the broadband environment in Wales.”