Gwynedd businesses benefiting from superfast broadband rollout

More and more businesses in the north west county of Gwynedd are benefiting from superfast broadband thanks to the Superfast Cyrmu programme.

As a result of the scheme rolling out across the county, 74 per cent of its premises (over 46,000) are able to access faster internet speeds.

The scheme is a partnership between the Welsh Government and BT to get faster internet rolled out across Wales. It includes additional funding from Broadband Delivery UK (BDUK) and the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF).

It’s bringing superfast broadband speeds to more rural areas of the country. Before the scheme, whole counties such as Gwynedd, Anglesey, Ceredigion and others would have been relied on slow internet.

Two businesses from the county that are making the most of these faster speeds are Inigo Jones, near Groeslon, and Geosho in Caernarfon.

Inigo Jones Slate Works was established in the nineteenth century and has fully taken advance of new broadband technology. The firm creates and sells slate fireplaces, memorials, kitchen workshops and crafts.

John Lloyd, the company’s MD, said: “Since the arrival of superfast broadband we have seen savings in time, cost and annoyance – I would say it’s freed up 20 per cent of my time and increased web sales by 5 per cent which is quite significant.

“We’ve also utilised cloud-based systems to store and backup files and all these benefits have undoubtedly improved our productivity and quality of service.

“These days visitors expect free wi-fi, which we simply could not provide before, but now all our visitors are happy and connected.  It’s given our marketing and social media a boost because visitors are instantly sharing their Inigo Jones experience online.”

Geosho, which is based in Doc Fictoria in Caernarfon, is also using superfast broadband. The company provides people with tools that exploit the benefits of location-based information, digital mapping and smartphones.

Paul Sandham, managing director at Geosho, said: “Superfast means that we are able to develop and process massive amounts of location data and content locally, which is cheaper and more controllable, and then upload this quickly overnight to our servers in Germany.

“It is also a boon in that we are now able to support a larger team of developers on one connection without the need for separate lines.”

Julie James, deputy minister for skills and technology, said: “It’s been great to see the difference superfast broadband has made to these two businesses in Gwynedd.  With 74 per cent of premises now able to access superfast broadband in the county there are many more businesses which can take advantage of faster internet speeds.

“Like many other counties in Wales, Gwynedd would not have any superfast broadband without the intervention of Superfast Cymru and it is good to see the impact it is having.

“We have intervened to provide access to superfast services because the scale of market failure in Wales is greater than the rest of the UK. This technology can make a real difference, and help boost the area’s economic prosperity.”