MONMOUTH MP David Davies has expressed his disappointment at new research by Ofcom which shows Monmouthshire languishing towards the bottom division for broadband provision.
The communications regulator assessed and ranked every local authority area in the UK according to a score given for the availability of superfast broadband, average broadband take-up, average maximum speeds and the percentage of homes with broadband currently not receiving 2Mbit/s speeds.
An interactive map was then produced online to provide an overall picture of broadband in different parts of the UK. Each area on the map is colour coded, with green ranking highest and red lowest.
Monmouthshire was placed in the fifth and lowest category for superfast broadband availability, with just 16 per cent of households falling within the coverage area of superfast broadband networks. It was graded in category four with average speeds of 6.1Mbit/s, while 16.8 per cent of addresses receive less than 2Mbit/s speeds. Broadband take-up in Monmouthshire is 69 per cent.
As Chair of the Welsh Affairs Committee, Mr Davies is currently leading an inquiry into Broadband in Wales. Virgin, BT, FibreSpeed, the Country Land and Business Association and NFU Cymru are among those who have so far given evidence.
Mr Davies said: “Through the course of our inquiry, it has become quite clear that a lack of broadband is one of the main obstacles hampering companies seeking to set up in rural Wales.
“Monmouthshire, for example, is home to a thriving rural economy, with food and agri-businesses, online retailers, industrial manufacturers and farming and tourism businesses all desperate to exploit digital connectivity. Yet the lack of broadband communications is stifling their ability to grow.
“Broadband is no longer a luxury. Rather, it has become a necessity in the modern age in which we live. It’s disappointing to see Monmouthshire, and indeed many other areas in Wales, lagging behind the rest of the UK and I hope the Committee will be able to report back with recommendations that will see improvements made across the board.”