Part of 1. Questions to the First Minister – in the Senedd at 2:08 pm on 3 May 2022.
First Minister, I understand broadband is not a devolved issue and that, sadly, north Wales has not received any of the £5 billion the UK Government has set aside for broadband infrastructure funding. It could be another two years, I'm led to believe. However, I am excited and pleased to learn that, in Anglesey, there is a consortium being led by Bangor University and the private sector, with the support of the Welsh Government, with a pilot programme to augment and increase the existing Welsh Government digital network to enable the rapid deployment of 5G infrastructure. This will primarily target rural areas, using both Bangor University's innovation and existing technology, through their digital signal processing centre. First Minister, will you join me in hoping that the UK Government will realise the quality of this local initiative and financially support desperately needed rural broadband infrastructure for north Wales, and give some of that £5 billion that's been set aside to north Wales?