What action is the Government taking to address the fact that only 6.05 per cent of Newport has access to ultrafast or gigabit broadband?
Telecommunications is not a devolved matter and responsibility for addressing ultrafast or gigabit broadband availability in Newport rests with the telecommunications industry, Ofcom and the UK Government.
According to Ofcom’s Connected Nations Spring Update 2022, 72.6 per cent of the premises in Newport can access ultrafast or gigabit broadband with 71 per cent able to access gigabit capable connectivity.
The Welsh Government continues to step into this non-devolved policy area. The Local Broadband Fund has provided over £736,000 to projects in Newport including to support the community of Michaelston y Fedw. We have connected 25 public sector premises through a Welsh Government led Local Full Fibre Network Project. In addition, we have provided access to gigabit capable broadband to 245 premises through our current full fibre broadband roll-out