Last month saw the announcement of a new £425 million agreement between the Welsh Government and BT to deliver next generation broadband to 96 per cent of Welsh homes and businesses by 2015. This will result in 1.3 million Welsh premises gaining access to broadband speeds that are fifteen times faster than those available in Wales today. It is a major investment from the public purse, with the Welsh and UK Government contributing around £120m with £90m being allocated from European funding coffers. The aim, if the project is given the green light by the European Commission, is to make Wales a global leader in fibre broadband and create around 2,500 jobs within the Welsh economy. Given that business organisations such as the CBI have been crying out for investment in infrastructure to help the Welsh economy, this state-of-the art investment certainly has enormous potential to make a real difference in attracting high value added businesses to Wales. It also has the potenti...
Entrepreneurship, innovation and the economy