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BT to expand north Wales fibre optic broadband coverage
More than 32,000 north Wales properties will gain access to super-fast broadband from BT over the coming months.
During 2012, the communities of Mold, Prestatyn and Wrexham are set to gain access to super-fast broadband from the telecoms giant, taking the number of properties in Wales within reach of its fibre-based infrastructure to 475,000.
The service has already gone live in Connah's Quay and Hawarden, while upgrades are also due to be carried out in Buckley, Gresford and north Wrexham, reports the Daily Post.
This move comes as part of plans from Openreach, BT's local access network business, to deliver fibre optic broadband to two-thirds of properties across the UK by the end of 2014.
Originally, the company had been intending to reach 66 per cent of the country by late 2015, but it announced in October that this target had been brought forward by 12 months. In order to achieve this new deadline, BT revealed it will accelerate around £300 million of investment and recruit more than 500 extra engineers.
Ann Beynon, director for Wales at BT, said the newly-announced rollout is a "tremendous boost" for the country, providing a "huge fillip" for businesses and the national economy.
Small and medium-sized enterprises will gain access to "big business speeds" at lower prices, allowing them to reach new customers, create new jobs and boost their competitiveness, she claimed.
Roy Bichan, chairman of the North Wales Economic Forum, described the announcement as "great news" given the current economic climate and stressed the importance of the fibre optic broadband investment could not be underestimated.
"Access to fast broadband is absolutely vital for local firms and households. It gives businesses a competitive edge in today's crowded marketplace and provides access to new markets with the potential of new jobs," he added.
"I welcome BT's announcement as it represents real progress and I look forward to a time when this vital part of our communications infrastructure is available."