Written question WQ98425
- Asked by
- Russell GeorgeIndependent
- To be answered by
- Cabinet Secretary for Economy, Energy and Planning
- Tabled
- Due
- Answered
- Time to answer
- 5 days
Question
How did the Welsh Government use the £70 million claw back funding from Openreach, in relation to the Superfast Cymru project?
Answer
Answered by Cabinet Secretary for Economy, Energy and Planning
The Welsh Government has developed a business case for the Extending High Speed Broadband project, to improve digital connectivity at premises that do not have access to at least superfast broadband speeds. The Extending High Speed Broadband project will be funded from the £70 million clawed back from the original Superfast Cymru project.
We are currently in the process of procuring a framework of telecommunications suppliers capable of addressing the remaining premises. Once the framework has been created, we will then offer a series of competitive call-off contracts to grant fund suppliers from the framework to address groups of premises. We anticipate that the first call-off will be offered later this year with work on the ground starting as soon as possible thereafter.