Openreach, Wales’ premier network provider, has achieved a significant milestone by extending ultrafast, ultra-reliable broadband coverage to half of all properties in the region. The company’s substantial investment in a new full-fibre digital network has propelled Wales into an era of enhanced connectivity, benefitting more than 816,000 homes and businesses.
In a recent announcement, Openreach disclosed the top 20 locations with the best ultrafast broadband coverage across Wales. Surprisingly, small towns and villages in north Wales outshine their urban counterparts, with Flintshire’s Buckley claiming the top spot. Here, over 90% of properties can now upgrade to ultrafast broadband. Old Colwyn in Conwy secured the second position, while Llangennech near Llanelli represented south Wales in third place.
The top 20 list also features Penygroes and Blaenau Ffestiniog in Gwynedd, Burry Port in Carmarthenshire, and Cross Keys in Caerphilly.
Openreach’s substantial investment of over £240 million in Wales has resulted in 277,000 households and businesses already benefiting from the faster, ultra-reliable services. Kim Mears, Chair of the Openreach Wales Board, expressed enthusiasm about the achievement, stating, “This is tremendous news for Wales.”
Mears highlighted the transformative impact of fast, reliable connectivity on various aspects of life, including family dynamics, education, and business prosperity. As one of the largest employers in Wales, Openreach’s engineers are actively involved in building the full-fibre network in communities where they live and work.
Reaching 50% coverage across Wales is a significant accomplishment, with Mears extending gratitude to the diligent engineers and build partners who contributed to this achievement. However, she emphasized that Openreach is not resting on its laurels, hinting at continued efforts to expand and improve broadband coverage in the region.
This achievement marks a notable step towards bridging the digital divide in Wales, ensuring that both urban and rural areas benefit from ultrafast broadband services. The company remains committed to its vision of providing reliable, high-speed connectivity for all communities across the nation.
