Minister set to attend broadband summit
A broadband summit is to be held in Montgomeryshire, attended by the Welsh Government minister responsible for the technology.
The summit, to be held in late March, will be hosted by Montgomeryshire AM, Russell George.
The summit follows a recent Inquiry into Broadband and Mobile coverage, held by the National Assembly's Economy, Infrastructure and Skills Committee, a committee which Mr George chairs.
Mrs James has agreed to attend the Montgomeryshire Broadband Summit to address community leaders and answer questions about the Superfast Cymru scheme as well as to discuss plans to improve broadband coverage after the current scheme reaches its conclusion at the end of 2017
Mr George said: “I’m delighted that the Minister has agreed to attend this important broadband summit which will be an invaluable opportunity for community leaders from across Montgomeryshire to question the Welsh Government on its plans to improve broadband coverage in North Powys
“It remains a significant concern to me that many rural communities across Montgomeryshire appear to be excluded from the fibre broadband upgrade or, at the very least, are at the back of the queue when it comes to receiving superfast speed
“While the Superfast Cymru project has undoubtedly improved the availability of fibre broadband across Wales benefitting both residents and businesses, there are many areas of Montgomeryshire which still find themselves with inadequate broadband with only two thirds of premises able to receive superfast speeds.
“The reality is that we, in North Powys, are some way off from receiving universal access to next generation broadband. The goalposts have been repeatedly moved and businesses have been unable to plan for the future
“This Summit will be an opportunity for us to question the Welsh Government Minister who has overall responsibility for telecoms infrastructure and for us to press her to bring forward a concrete timescale for the extension of superfast broadband to every property in Mid Wales
“Whether connecting with family and friends, helping children to study from home, or driving growth for local businesses, digital connectivity is now critical to our day-to-day lives and the wider economy
“As a result, Montgomeryshire can no longer afford to be the poor relation when it comes to fibre broadband.”
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