Written question WQ98733

I appreciate the economic impact of poor broadband and mobile connectivity on rural businesses. Digital connectivity, including mobile and broadband, is essential to modern society and the economy of Wales, allowing businesses to reach customers, adopt digital technologies and compete effectively in domestic and global markets.

Several publications have looked at the economic impact of broadband and mobile connectivity. The National Infrastructure for Wales’s “Wales Infrastructure Assessment 2026 Digital and Communications” states that “digital connectivity is of critical importance to the rural communities of Wales” and that “in rural areas, digital connectivity can enable remote working and provide rural businesses with an important route to market.” The assessment further states that “Digital solutions can contribute enormously to the economy and prosperity of Wales (c£10Bn to 2030 based on estimates from Vodafone and Openreach).”