Access to Broadband in South Wales West

Part of 2. Questions to the Leader of the House and Chief Whip – in the Senedd at 2:55 pm on 14 November 2018.

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Photo of Suzy Davies Suzy Davies Conservative 2:55, 14 November 2018

Thank you very much. I think we might be in a ha'porth of tar position, in that case, because I raised some time ago with Openreach directly, actually, its refusal to provide full roll-out to particular businesses in Bridgend, persuading them, if you like, to sign up for more expensive packages than otherwise they would have. But now I'm hearing from residents in Bridgend about inconsistency of the roll-out of broadband in their area—in a single street. I'm thinking of one particular street in Litchard, where there are houses that have been advised they can apply for broadband now, which is great, whereas, doors away, the occupiers are being told that they can't do that, 'pending technology', whatever that means, or, 'situations are being explored'. Again, I'm really not sure what it means and neither are they. Obviously, this discrepancy is surprising in itself because we are actually talking about next-door neighbours here. It's hugely frustrating for residents and businesses. So, if I provide you with the details, would you approach Openreach for me to see if I can get a quicker answer, and then Bridgend residents will hopefully have a satisfactory answer to the problems that affect them?