Craig Williams, Welsh Conservative MP for Montgomeryshire, has welcomed plans by Openreach to build full fibre broadband to Wales’ hardest to serve communities, which will include fibre to 9,000 premises in Montgomeryshire.
Openreach have today (28th May) announced that a total of 140 exchanges across Wales will be upgraded, with rural homes set to benefit the most. In Montgomeryshire, exchanges in Caersws, Newtown, Machynlleth, Llanidloes and Forden will be upgraded, enabling access to full fibre broadband for 8,809 premises.
Openreach’s build plan forms part of the UK Government’s target of delivering ‘gigabit capable broadband’ to 85% of the UK by 2025. This is in conjunction with the Government’s commitment to reform the Electronic Communications Code, allowing providers access to rural land more easily to enable build to progress at pace.
Welcoming the announcement, Craig Williams MP said:
“I am delighted to hear of Openreach’s plans to connect an extra 415,000 homes and businesses across rural Wales, including 8,809 in Montgomeryshire. It is excellent to see that the UK Government is committed to boosting access to broadband for people and businesses across Wales, and projects like this are a huge step forward in achieving that goal.
“Fast, reliable broadband is more important than ever, and this will be a fantastic boost for the communities of Caersws, Newtown, Machynlleth, Llanidloes and Forden.
“Obviously there is still much work to carry out in enabling full fibre access for every property, and I continue to push for a faster rollout to the areas that are not yet included in Openreach’s plans, as well as eradicating the remaining not-spots across Montgomeryshire. But this project will see very welcome investment pumped into Mid Wales, providing homes and businesses across the region the connectivity they need to flourish.”
