Openreach drops-in as Senedd opens up
MSs from across Wales had the opportunity during a drop-in session at the Senedd in Cardiff Bay to talk with Openreach engineers and apprentices that are being tasked with building a Full Fibre ultrafast broadband network across the country. (Gweler fersiwn Cymraeg isod / Welsh language version below)
More than 20 MSs, support staff and researchers were able to quiz Openreach about Wales’ digital future and learn more about some of the innovative technology that’s being used by the nation’s largest network builder to bring some of the fastest and most reliable broadband speeds in Europe to some of the remotest parts of Wales.
During the drop-in session, which was the first to be held at the Senedd since Covid restrictions were lifted, MSs also had the opportunity to learn more about the economic benefits fast, reliable connectivity is bringing to the Welsh economy
Openreach recently announced it will create and fill around 250 additional Welsh jobs during 2022 as it continues to invest billions of pounds into its UK broadband network, people and training.
The drop-in session was hosted by Connie Dixon, Partnership Director for Wales. She said:
“We know that reliable, ultrafast internet connections can have a transformative effect on businesses, online learning and people’s daily lives. We’ve already reached six million homes and businesses across the UK with ultrafast full fibre technology including more than 425,000 in Wales but we know there’s more to do and we’re committed to doing it.”
“Research from Cebr last year 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.
“We were delighted to be able to take that positive story to MSs today and set out our vision and plans for bringing ultrafast broadband to more of Wales.”
Sponsor of the drop-in was Peter Fox MS for Monmouth who said: “It was great to welcome Openreach to the Senedd so that they could give an overview of their ambitious Full Fibre ultrafast broadband plans for Wales.”
“We’re all in agreement that it’s vital for everyone to have access to reliable and quick broadband and its encouraging to see the investment Openreach are making to Wales – both in terms of building the infrastructure and recruitment.”
With a workforce of around 2,300 across Wales, Openreach already employs the nation’s largest team of telecoms engineers and professionals and has committed to building a more diverse and inclusive team in an industry that’s traditionally been very white, male dominated.
Openreach also plans to retrain more than 3,000 of its existing engineers during the next year – changing their focus from fixing older, copper-based technologies to installing and maintaining faster, more reliable fibre connections.
Last year, Openreach’s National Learning Centre for Wales in Newport was officially opened by the First Minister for Wales, Mark Drakeford and expects to train up to 6,000 new and existing Openreach engineers from across Wales, as well as further afield, during a typical year.
Openreach yn y Senedd
Openreach y cyntaf i drefnu digwyddiad yn y Senedd ar ôl codi cyfyngiadau Covid
Sesiwn yn y Senedd yn manylu cynlluniau ffeibr cyflawn Cymru
Trefnodd Openreach sesiwn yn y Senedd, Bae Caerdydd, er mwyn rhoi cyfle i Aelodau’r Senedd drafod gyda pheirianwyr a phrentisiaid sy’n adeiladu rhwydwaith band eang ffeibr cyflawn ar draws y wlad.
Roedd dros 20 Aelod Senedd, staff cymorth ac ymchwilwyr wedi holi Openreach am ddyfodol digidol Cymru a dysgu mwy am y technolegau arloesol mae’n defnyddio i ddarparu gwasanaethau band eang mor gyflym a dibynadwy â’r gorau yn Ewrop.
Yn y sesiwn, y cyntaf yn y Senedd ers codi cyfyngiadau Covid, cafodd yr Aelodau Senedd gyfle i ddysgu mwy am y buddion economaidd bydd cysylltedd cyflym a dibynadwy yn darparu er cefnogi economi Cymru.
Yn ddiweddar, cyhoeddodd Openreach bydd yn creu a llenwi oddeutu 250 swydd ychwanegol yng Nghymru yn 2022 wrth barhau i fuddsoddi £biliynau i gynnal rhwydwaith band eang y Deyrnas Unedig, gweithwyr a hyfforddiant.
Cyflwynwyd y sesiwn gan Connie Dixon, Cyfarwyddwraig Partneriaeth Cymru, gan ddweud:
“Erbyn hyn mae pawb yn deall fod cysylltiadau band eang tra-chyflym yn gallu trawsnewid busnesau, dysgu arlein a bywydau beunyddiol pobl. Rydym eisoes wedi darparu technoleg ffeibr cyflawn ar gyfer 6 miliwn cartref a busnes yn y Deyrnas Unedig, yn cynnwys dros 425,000 yng Nghymru ond mae mwy o waith o’n blaenau ac rydym yn benderfynol o’i wneud.”
Roedd ymchwil Centre for Economics and Business Research (Cebr) y llynedd 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.
“Roeddem yn falch iawn o gyflwyno’r stori bositif honno i Aelodau’r Senedd heddiw ac olrhain ein gweledigaeth a’n cynlluniau i ledu band eang ffeibr cyflawn ar hyd a lled y wlad.”
Noddwr y sesiwn oedd Peter Fox, Aelod Senedd Mynwy, a ddywedodd: “Roedd yn wych gallu croesawu Openreach i’r Senedd er mwyn amlinellu ei gynlluniau band eang ffeibr cyflawn uchelgeisiol ar draws y wlad”.
“Mae pawb yn cytuno ei bod yn hanfodol trefnu mynediad i fand eang cyflym a dibynadwy ar gyfer y boblogaeth gyfan ac mae’n galonogol gweld Openreach yn buddsoddi yng Nghymru - wrth adeiladu seilwaith a recriwtio gweithwyr.”
Wrth gyflogi oddeutu 2,300 o weithwyr yng Nghymru, mae Openreach eisoes yn cynnal y tîm peirianwyr telathrebu mwyaf ac wedi ymrwymo i ddatblygu tîm amrywiol a chynhwysol o fewn diwydiant sy’n draddodiadol wedi cynnwys mwyafrif llethol o weithwyr sy’n ddynion gwyn.
Yn ogystal, mae Openreach yn bwriadu ailhyfforddi dros 3,000 o’i beirianwyr dros y flwyddyn nesaf - wrth newid ei ffocws o drwsio gwifrau copr i osod a chynnal cysylltiadau ffeibr mwy cyflym a dibynadwy.
Y llynedd, agorwyd Canolfan Dysgu Cenedlaethol newydd Openreach, Casnewydd, yn swyddogol gan brif weinidog Cymru, Mark Drakeford. Rhagwelir bydd yn hyfforddi hyd at 6,000 o beirianwyr newydd a chyfredol y cwmni o bob rhan o Gymru a gweddill y Deyrnas Unedig bob blwyddyn.
