Dear Resident,
I wanted to provide an update following a recent meeting Glyn Davies, MP and I had with the BT Director Wales, Ann Beynon and a number of her senior management team in Newtown.
We were informed that Broadband fibre is currently being laid in Machynlleth, Welshpool and Newtown. We were also told that five 'green cabinet boxes’ (telephone exchange for Broadband) have already been installed inWelshpool alongside the existing exchange boxes.
BT confirmed that as part of their contractual agreement with Welsh Government, they have to provide a minimum speed of 24 Mb (megabits) per second and they must also connect 96% of business and residential properties. In relation to the remaining 4% of properties and businesses in Wales that fall outside of the contract, BT confirmed that it did not necessarily mean that those individuals would not receive a broadband connection but that post any connection, the download/upload speed could potentially vary from 0Mb up to the minimum 24 Mb. At this point in time, they cannot say who will be part of the 4% until they do the detailed planning work for the specific area. I am not particularly happy with this, but this is the position of BT.
The BT Director went on to explain some more of the technical detail of how the infrastructure is laid. The main exchanges (what is technically know as 'Head Ends) will be in main towns such as Newtown, Machynlleth, Welshpool. From these, cables will be laid to another green cabinet every 230 metres apart. BT also explained that when they are looking to upgrade areas to fibre, they run a report which looks at the area and the exchange area within. The report suggests the best locations for cabinets and any additional cabinets that will be required. BT have been advised by the Welsh Government that they must work within a value for money threshold; therefore this may be the deciding factor as to whether they can reach individual isolated properties, as they would have to give due consideration as to whether they would fall within that criteria threshold.
Having said that, BT assured us that they are looking at different options to reach properties which include:
- Remodelling the current network – moving cabinets / placing additional cabinets
- Fibre to the premise
- Install small pillars in hamlets
Most areas have a start date for the roll out as previously mentioned and you can view the start date for your area here at this website - www.superfast-cymru.com/where-and-when. With regards to the areas that do not have a start date yet for the roll out of fibre including Meifod, Llanwddyn, Llansilin, Llangadfan and Glantwymyn. BT stated that there will be an announcement published in August with start dates. BT confirmed that they have a completion target of March 2016 to roll out the entire project.
Glyn and I do feel encouraged that the majority of people in Montgomeryshire will receive faster and more reliable broadband as a result of our meeting with BT. I would encourage as many people as possible to register your interest to receive fibre, when it is enabled, on the Superfast Cymru website: www.superfastcymru.com.
However, there is a view pervaded by some that BT will not deliver what they have committed to deliver. It is my job to ensure that the process is properly scrutinised and I will continue to challenge them on this, ensuring aclose eye is kept on the roll out project for Montgomeryshire. We must ensure that everyone has access to broadband no matter where they live and we have reiterated this to Mrs Beynon. It will not be acceptable for us to have ‘not spots’ in Montgomeryshire and all avenues should be examined to bring in the relevant technology capable of delivering broadband connection.
If you have contacted me on specific issues, I am taking these up separately with BT. I will come back to you with answers shortly. If you have any further specific issues then please let me know.
I hope you find this update helpful.
Russell