Rural Wales still cut off

12.11.25pm UTC (GMT +0000) Wed 30th May 2007

Welsh Liberal Democrat AM for Brecon and Radnorshire, Kirsty Williams, has expressed concern at the gap in access to communication services between urban and rural parts of Wales.

Industry regulator Ofcom found that both take-up and perceived availability of services such as broadband internet and digital television was lower in rural locations.

Ms Williams said: "It is concerning that that there is still this gap between urban and rural areas. Respondents to Ofcom's survey expressed a desire for services such as 3G mobile and DAB digital radio, which they currently do not have access to in the same way as those living in more built-up towns and cities. As well as the inconvenience for individuals, however, there is the impact on business to consider - trying to operate in today's high-tech market without access to broadband internet is obviously a disadvantage. Government and service providers must work together to try and correct this imbalance, to move towards genuine equality of service provision and ensure those living in rural areas are not left behind."

Notes:

Ofcom have recently published their second annual review of telecoms, television and radio markets, which included a survey to examine whether consumers in urban and rural areas are aware of whether or not they have access to those communications services and, if they do perceive themselves not to have access to those services, whether they would prefer to have access. Their findings included the fact that take-up for multichannel TV, broadband and 3G mobile in rural areas is lower than in urban Wales, and that between seven and eleven per cent of those in rural areas would be interested in 3G mobile and digital radio if it was available. The report is available to download in full from the Ofcom website (www.ofcom.org.uk).