Welsh next-generation broadband project 'a success'

A next-generation broadband project launched last year in north Wales using fibre optic technology has been deemed a success, reports the Daily Post.

The FibreSpeed project links business parks in north Wales with similar developments in Manchester 200 miles away and around 1,000 users are utilising the new resource.

Both public and private sources provided the £30 million needed to initially set up the project and the money was sourced from European Regional Development Funds, the Welsh Assembly government and Geo Networks.

Deputy first minister Ieuan Wyn Jones told the paper: "This is a major advance for Wales, one that equips businesses with a powerful competitive advantage in resisting the global downturn and preparing for the economic upturn that will follow."

The government in Westminster has pledged to provide every home in the UK with a broadband connection speed of two megabits per second by 2012, which could encourage more people to use VoIP solutions.