IMPROVEMENTS are being made to fibre broadband in Caldicot as part of a scheme rolled out by BT and Superfast Cymru.

Wales Office Minister Alun Cairns visited the town last Wednesday (12th August) to see the work being put in by BT and Superfast Cymru to improve the internet provision in the area.

It is hoped the roll out will give a boost to connectivity for residents and businesses based in the area.

Caldicot and the surrounding areas of Magor, Chepstow and Shirenewton, are currently fibre enabled under BT’s commercial rollout. Many cabinets are live at the exchange and service is available in most of the exchange area.

Wales Office Minister Alun Cairns said: “The digital landscape in Wales has been transformed by superfast broadband and the latest figures show that this technology revolution is far from over.

“With the highest availability of superfast broadband among the devolved nations, more homes and businesses than ever before now have access to superfast broadband.

Superfast broadband revitalises the way we communicate, shop, bank and work.

“I visited Caldicot with BT Openreach to see how fibre broadband is being installed across Wales and learnt the benefits superfast broadband can provide customers as well as the jobs and growth it brings to the local economy.

“The UK Government will continue to do all it can to support the rollout with funding and I encourage people across Wales to seize this fantastic opportunity.”

Welsh Government deputy minister for skills and technology, Julie James, said:

“Providing faster internet speeds to homes and businesses is a priority for the Welsh Government.

“That is why the Welsh Government is committed, through the Superfast Cymru programme, to bring faster broadband across Wales. 

“The latest Ofcom report has shown Wales to be making the most progress among all the devolved nations in bringing superfast broadband to premises. 

“Wales’s contribution to the three million premises across the UK is also significant with over 482,000 premises now able to receive faster broadband.”

Bill Murphy, BT’s managing director for Next Generation Access, said: “This marks another very important stage in the rollout of an exciting technology, which is transforming the lives of communities across Wales and the UK as a whole.

“BT’s multi-billion pound investment in superfast broadband through its involvement in partnerships and its own commercial programme has already made fibre broadband available to many hundreds of thousands of households and businesses in Wales – and the number is continuing to grow rapidly. Our engineers are rolling out the technology at a world class pace, reaching thousands more premises every week.”

Culture secretary John Whittingdale said: “Reaching three million properties is a huge achievement and I’m delighted that this includes more than 482,000 in Wales.

“Our rollout of superfast broadband is transforming lives up and down the UK as every day thousands more homes and businesses are gaining access to superfast speeds.

“It’s fantastic to see that the rollout of superfast broadband is now delivering for customers and for the taxpayer.

“The levels of people taking up superfast broadband in areas where we invested public money are beyond our expectations, and BT is now reimbursing the public purse to deliver further coverage across the UK.

“This now means that BT will be providing up to £129m cashback for some of the most hard to reach areas.”

Homes and businesses can find out more information on superfast broadband by visiting: www.gov.uk/gosuperfast