Broadband: Reaction to new Welsh report claiming slow speeds risk ‘excluding people from modern life

Michael Armitage, Founder at broadband provider, Broadway Broadband, comments on the Welsh Parliament’s Climate Change, Environment and Infrastructure Committee new report which warns of people in rural Wales being left behind with ‘sub-par, unreliable broadband’ that risks ‘excluding people from modern life’ due to barriers in receiving high-quality, superfast broadband: 

“It’s encouraging to see the Welsh Parliament raising the issue of sub-par broadband affecting people across rural Wales. The report claiming people could be left ‘excluded from modern life’ is a stark warning that it is time to ramp up on tackling the digital disadvantage affecting people in rural Wales. Data released from Ofcom this month found that across Wales, 10,626 homes were below the minimum standard for broadband speed. 

“Given the ambitious targets for rural connectivity laid out in the ‘Levelling Up’ agenda, the main priority should now be to continue providing the population in rural Wales with high-quality, full fibre broadband that is both as reliable and affordable as the packages available in urban areas.”