Broadband uptake growth in Wales

The number of homes and businesses in Wales connected to ADSL broadband is on the rise, according to new figures.

Statistics released by BT show that for the first time, the number of customers in the Welsh counties of Pembrokeshire, Conwy, Ceredigion and Anglesey on broadband now exceed those who are not wired up to high-speed internet services.

Each county has a take-up rate of more than 50 per cent - higher than any English county and representing almost 10,000 homes and companies.

Ann Beynon, BT's director for Wales, said: " This is a fantastic achievement for Wales - it shows that many people and businesses in these counties are switched on to the great benefits offered by broadband technology.

"This creates an ideal context for the Welsh Assembly government working with BT and other commercial providers to promote ecommerce support for business and community initiatives."

BT now has more than 440,000 wholesale broadband connections in Wales and over eight million across the UK.