Full fibre build is on the up with new training school
Chris Elmore MP goes back to school to join Openreach trainee engineers at National Learning Centre for Wales in Newport (Gweler fersiwn Cymraeg isod / Welsh language version below)
UK Shadow Minister for Digital Infrastructure, Chris Elmore MP, recently took a tour of Openreach’s state-of-the-art National Learning Centre for Wales to witness first-hand how the UK’s largest digital infrastructure builder is training its engineers to bring ultrafast Full fibre broadband to Wales.
Based in Newport, the multi-million pound learning centre will give trainee Openreach engineers the opportunity to learn the ropes and test their skills in a replica street, built from scratch to recreate the real network in the outside world.
Opened by Welsh Government First Minister, Mark Drakeford, the new centre will enable engineers to experience a typical working day - from laying cables to building joints and making repairs, working underground or climbing telephone poles and installing new services inside customers’ homes and businesses.
Up to 6,000 new and existing Openreach engineers from across Wales, as well as further afield, are expected to train at the Newport centre during a typical year as the company accelerates its flagship full fibre broadband deployment across the country.
During his visit, Chris Elmore MP, said: “It’s been great to see all the training and learning that Openreach apprentices go through here at Newport and in particular the emphasis they place on health and safety.”
“Full Fibre is such an important part of how we learn and how we work and Openreach’s work is crucial to how we deliver that over the coming weeks and months to the people of Wales and the rest of the UK.”
Kim Mears, Openreach’s Managing Director and Chair of the Openreach Wales Board, said: “Our National Learning Centre for Wales is testimony to our commitment to not only continued learning and development but also to Wales.”
“This year we’re recruiting 250 new apprentices across every part of Wales and the vast majority will come here to Newport to get their training before going out into the real world and helping us to build our Full Fibre infrastructure at speed across Wales.”
About Openreach in Wales
Openreach is well on track to reach 25 million UK homes and businesses with access to Full Fibre ultrafast broadband by December 2026 and has already reached around 450,000 properties across Wales.
With a workforce of around 2,300 across Wales, Openreach already employs the nation’s largest team of telecoms engineers and professionals. The business recently announced that it would create and fill around 250 additional jobs throughout Wales during 2022 as it continues to invest billions of pounds into its UK broadband network, people and training.
Across Wales more than 100,000 homes and businesses have already ordered a full fibre service from a range of retail service providers using the Openreach network. But this means that thousands more could be benefiting from some of the fastest, most reliable broadband connections in Europe and have yet to upgrade.
Recent research by the Centre for Economics and Business Research (Cebr) highlighted the clear economic benefits of connecting everyone in Wales to full fibre. It estimated this would create a £2 billion boost to the Welsh economy.
This short video explains what Full Fibre technology is and you can find out more about our Fibre First programme, latest availability and local plans here.
Canolfan newydd yn cefnogi band eang ffeibr cyflawn
Yn ddiweddar ymwelodd Gweinidog Seilwaith Digidol yr Wrthblaid, Chris Elmore AS, â Chanolfan Ddysgu Genedlaethol Cymru Openreach er mwyn gweld sut mae prif ddarparwr seilwaith digidol y Deyrnas Unedig yn dysgu ei beirianwyr i ledu band eang ffeibr cyflawn drwy Gymru gyfan.
Adeiladwyd y ganolfan ddysgu gwerth sawl £miliwn er mwyn helpu peirianwyr Openreach i ddysgu a phrofi sgiliau newydd mewn stryd sy’n adlewyrchu’r byd go iawn.
Agorwyd y Ganolfan gan Brif Weinidog Cymru, Mark Drakeford. Mae’n helpu peirianwyr i ddod i arfer â phrofiadau arferol diwrnod gwaith - o osod ceblau i greu uniadau a gwneud gwaith trwsio, gweithio o dan neu uwchben y ddaear, dringo polion ffôn a gosod gwasanaethau newydd mewn cartrefi a busnesau cwsmeriaid.
Rhagwelir bydd hyd at 6,000 peiriannydd Openreach (profiadol a newydd) o bob rhan o Gymru a thu hwnt yn derbyn hyfforddiant yn y ganolfan bob blwyddyn wrth i’r cwmni ledu ei rwydwaith band eang ffeibr cyflawn ar hyd a lled y wlad.
Yn ystod ei ymweliad, dywedodd Chris Elmore AS: “Roedd yn dda gweld yr holl waith a dysgu mae prentisiaid Openreach yn profi yma yng Nghasnewydd, yn benodol y pwyslais ar iechyd a diogelwch.”
“Erbyn hyn mae ffeibr cyflawn yn rhan mor bwysig o’n profiadau byw a dysgu, a bydd gwaith Openreach yn elfen hanfodol o hynny dros yr wythnosau a misoedd nesaf i bawb yng Nghymru a gweddill y Deyrnas Unedig.”
Dywedodd Kim Mears, rheolwr gyfarwyddwr Openreach & cadeirydd Bwrdd Cymru: “Mae’r Ganolfan hon yn adlewyrchu ein hymroddiad i barhau i ddysgu a datblygu, ond hefyd i gefnogi Cymru gyfan.”
“Eleni byddwn yn recriwtio 250 prentis newydd o bob rhan o Gymru a bydd y rhan helaeth yn dod yma i Gasnewydd i dderbyn hyfforddiant cyn mynd allan i’r byd go iawn i’n helpu i adeiladu ein rhwydwaith ffeibr cyflawn yn gyflym ar draws y wlad.”
Openreach yng Nghymru
Mae Openreach yn dilyn ei raglen i ddarparu band eang ffeibr cyflawn ar gyfer 25 miliwn cartref a busnes yn y Deyrnas Unedig erbyn Rhagfyr 2026 ac eisoes wedi cyrraedd oddeutu 450,000 cartref a busnes yng Nghymru.
Wrth gyflogi 2,300 yng Nghymru, mae Openreach eisoes yn cynnal y tîm mwyaf o beirianwyr a gweithwyr cysylltiedig yn y wlad. Yn ddiweddar cyhoeddodd y cwmni ei fod am greu a llenwi oddeutu 250 swydd ychwanegol yng Nghymru yn ystod 2022 wrth barhau i fuddsoddi £biliynau mewn rhwydwaith band eang, pobl a hyfforddiant yn y Deyrnas Unedig.
Yng Nghymru mae dros 100,000 cartref a busnes eisoes wedi archebu gwasanaeth ffeibr cyflawn gan amryw gwmnïau gwasanaeth sy’n defnyddio rhwydwaith Openreach. Ond mae hynny hefyd yn golygu gallai miloedd o bobl eraill elwa o’r cysylltiadau band eang mwyaf cyflym a dibynadwy yn Ewrop, ond heb wneud hynny eto..
Roedd ymchwil diweddar gan Centre for Economics and Business Research (Cebr) wedi tanlinellu’r buddion economaidd o gysylltu pawb yng Nghymru â’r rhwydwaith ffeibr cyflawn. Amcangyfrifir byddai’n creu hwb gwerth £2 biliwn i economi’r wlad.
Fideo byr yn esbonio technoleg ffeibr cyflawn a gallwch ddysgu mwy am ein rhaglen Ffeibr Gyntaf, ein darpariaethau diweddaraf a’n cynlluniau lleol yma.
