Speed network will not slow you down

Mar 21 2007 by David R. Jones, Daily Post

SMALLER business parks will not be put at a competitive disadvantage by a new fibre-optic network being rolled out across North Wales, it has been claimed.

Millions of pounds are being pumped into the project to give companies and other organisations access to high speed broadband services.

The Fibre Speed project will link 14 major business parks in the region and provide almost unlimited capacity to meet the needs of employers such as Ewloe-based online price comparison business moneysupermarket.com and technology centres such as the CAST Technium at Bangor.

Chris Johnson, the Welsh Assembly Government’s head of Fibre Speed, said at present such services were not available in North Wales from any service provider.

“If such a situation prevails, it will significantly inhibit businesses’ ability to compete in the global knowledge economy,” he said.

He said telecoms providers were unwilling to invest in the necessary infrastructure to help users in North Wales claiming that the low population density across the region made it commercially unviable.

The Assembly was therefore seeking a strategic partner who would work with it to design, build and deliver the Fibre Speed project.