Despite improvements to Broadband coverage in Montgomeryshire Assembly Member Russ George is still fighting for a better deal.
“Now 85% of Montgomeryshire’s residents can benefit from superfast broadband coverage and almost a quarter can benefit from ultrafast speeds via fibre to the premises,” he said.
“This is big improvement on the position from just this time last year. But my focus continues to be on getting this percentage up to 100%.
“For many communities across Montgomeryshire, broadband connectivity remains a distant dream and I sympathise with this frustration from the “have nots”.
“A higher proportion of premises in Montgomeryshire are still without access to so-called "decent broadband" of 10 megabits per second compared with the average for Wales and in the rural parts of Montgomeryshire, the gulf between the "haves" and the "have nots" rises further.
“Broadband is now considered the fourth utility, is an essential part of modern life and is no longer a "nice to have" luxury. It is also essential for a thriving Mid Wales economy so from my perspective.
“I will keep asking probing questions of the Welsh Government and Openreach until such time as all people in Montgomeryshire are able to benefit from the same high speed broadband which is enjoyed and taken for granted by people in more urban areas of Wales.
“If you would like me to make enquiries on your behalf on the options available to you, please don't hesitate to contact me by emailing russell.george@assembly.wales
“It has to be matter of great regret that some communities have been left stranded following the conclusion of phase 1 of Superfast Cymru and it is unbelievably frustrating for constituents to see fibre cables hanging from poles just metres away from their homes without any way to access a fibre broadband service. This ought to be addressed as a matter of urgency.
“I also believe that there should have been a seamless transition between phase one and two of the scheme.
“This delay, and the relative lack of specific information on the timetable for the delivery of a broadband upgrade on the Welsh Government and Openreach broadband checkers, have both served to add to the frustration of people who remain without any broadband at all, not alone high speed broadband.
“Going forward, I would like to see the Welsh Government issue quarterly updates on the number of premises connected under the scheme.
“And I would also like to see a change in approach where the terms of reference of the Superfast Cymru programme are changed to compel Openreach to prioritise the digital connectivity of those premises which cannot receive a decent broadband connection at all and to those that cannot get 30 Mb/s Next Generation Access approved superfast broadband.
“And then finally to the remaining premises rather than picking the low hanging fruit. This would ensure that those premises who most need an upgrade will be provided with decent digital connectivity before those which already receive adequate broadband and are relative "easy wins".