Rural Digital Infrastructure

David Chadwick, the Member of Parliament for Brecon, Radnor and Cwm Tawe, asked the Government what steps they are taking with Cabinet colleagues to improve digital infrastructure in rural Wales. In response, Dame Nia Griffith, the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Wales, stated that the Government is committed to improving digital connectivity, with a goal of achieving full gigabit and national 5G coverage by 2030. She mentioned that she has recently met with internet and mobile providers, as well as Ofcom, and that the Government's shared rural network has boosted 4G connectivity in Chadwick's constituency, with the activation of two additional masts last month. Chadwick then followed up, expressing concern that some of his constituents living in areas such as Llanwrthwl and Llanafan Fawr have been missed by previous rollout schemes. He asked if the Government is committed to ensuring that funding is available to connect people living in so-called hard-to-reach areas. Dame Nia Griffith acknowledged the challenges of connectivity in Chadwick's rural constituency, but noted that over 90% of premises in the area can access superfast broadband speeds. She also stated that approximately 3,000 premises in the constituency are expected to receive gigabit-capable connections through the Project Gigabit cross-regional procurement framework, and that there are 21 voucher projects across the constituency, covering around 5,000 premises. Griffith invited Chadwick to meet with her to discuss any further concerns he may have.