Telecommunication, ICT & Broadband
The UK is ranked ahead of all its main competitors in terms of ‘e-readiness.’
Within the UK, Wales is at the forefront of ICT development. The network is fully digital and linked via fibre-optic technology.
Businesses locating in Wales will enjoy the advantages of:
- Affordable broadband anywhere in Wales
- Advanced networks
- High speed connections between Wales and an international Internet hub
- A world-leading wireless broadband network in Cardiff
Broadband
Our broadband infrastructure includes a fibre-based open access network, Fibrespeed, in North Wales. The Welsh Government has committed to rolling out next generation broadband to all businesses by 2016 and homes by 2020, offering at least 100Mbps in urban areas and 30Mbps to rural locations.
Mobile Network
Mobile phone coverage in Wales is good, with 97% availability of a basic second generation mobile service from at least one mobile operator. Wales also continues to see the roll-out of more advanced third generation (3G) mobile services articularly in the denser urban areas of the south east. An annual review and update on the status of telecommunications in Wales is available from Ofcom.
www.ofcom.org.uk/research/cm/cmrnr08/wales (External Website)
Datacentres
Next Generation Data (NGD) has invested some £200 million to create one of Europe’s largest and most technically advanced ‘green’ data-centres. The NGD Europe 1 data-centre is situated in a circa 70,000 sq m facility owned by the Welsh Government. It is a carrier neutral centre with interconnect points for several major carriers. NGD is working to ensure the provision of direct international connectivity to the US and the rest of the world.
Next Generation Data (Externall Website)
Wales is also home to the BT data centre in Cardiff Bay. The data centre was purpose-built to support the full range of BT hosting and managed service options. The site consists of three data halls capable of hosting an estimated total of 12,000 servers.
Information and Communications Technologies
Wales is also home to a thriving IT, Software and Communications sector. For further details on how the Welsh Government can support companies in these sectors visit the Information and Communication Technologies pages.
