Digital Infrastructure for Businesses

Part of 2. Questions to the Leader of the House and Chief Whip (in respect of her portfolio responsibilities) – in the Senedd at 2:24 pm on 6 December 2017.

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Photo of Julie James Julie James Labour 2:24, 6 December 2017

So, the issue with the industry is really complex, but basically the industry assures me—and I've asked for that assurance on a number of occasions—that business products are available everywhere in Wales. However, a large number of businesses can't afford to buy the ethernet connection that's being talked about there. We've put the ultrafast connectivity voucher in place in order to reduce the cost for businesses and, actually, it's more generous in Wales than anywhere else because of the proportions that we pay. There are issues, though, about market failure and the issue around the cost of some of the ethernet services. I've been on to Ofcom for some time about what they want to do about that. I'm happy to write again if the Member wants to give me specific businesses that are experiencing that issue and, of course, I will be in the constituency tomorrow to hear them for myself.

Obviously, the superfast roll-out is nearly complete at the end of this year. It isn't equal across Wales, as the Member will know—the contract is let on an all-Wales basis and it will be complete by the end of this year. We will then be putting in place the Superfast 2 project, and one of the things I'm very much looking forward to discussing in the Member's constituency tomorrow is what that community particularly wants to see in terms of the superfast project, and what we can do to make up for some of those shortfalls. It will be an interesting discussion, I'm sure. But if the Member wants me to write to Ofcom again about specific businesses or in general about his patch, I'm more than happy to do so.