The communications landscape is changing, broadband is now transforming our communications experience bringing together voice and data services through convergence.
In an increasingly converged world we will all benefit from the combination of television, communications and the internet.
BT has completed its roll out of ADSL Broadband to 99%* of Wales. That means that people are already using broadband to improve productivity or market more effectively in business, or downloading music, shopping, posting pictures on the web, or listening to digital radio across Wales.
Broadband take-up among Welsh customers has been growing rapidly in the last 18 months and is now higher than the UK average.
* The delivery of broadband services is governed by both network economics and technical limits. BT estimates currently that approximately 99% of the Welsh population could receive broadband service if ordered. BT cannot provide a definitive figure as the characteristics of lines differ from household to household and business to business.
BT is working in partnership with the Welsh Assembly Government to address the difficulties experienced by some customers in gaining access to broadband services throughout Wales.
Under the Regional Innovative Broadband Support (RIBS) project, which is administered by the Welsh Assembly Government, BT are working with the RIBS project team to identify areas that cannot receive a broadband service despite the local exchange being enabled. Once a "not spot" has been identified, BT and the Welsh Assembly Government will work together to establish a way of bringing broadband to this area.
Customers who cannot receive a broadband service are encouraged to register their details on the Broadband brokerage website at www.bbwo.org.uk or www.abec.org.uk or by telephoning 029 2064 7030.
SDSL offers a different type of broadband experience than asymmetrical broadband services (ADSL). ADSL delivers higher speeds to users that want to download large files, whereas SDSL allows users to both send and receive data at high speeds. This makes SDSL an ideal form of broadband connectivity for any Welsh business, remote office or teleworker.
BT's Wi-Fi service, BT Openzone, is being rolled out in selected areas of Wales. In Cardiff alone, there are already more than 100 Wi-Fi 'hotspots', in pubs, cafes, hotels, the Millennium Stadium, the airport and even a church - where people can link up, surf the net and download their emails. The 'City on the Move' project was the UK's first city Wi-Fi initiative, where BT partnered with Cardiff Council to provide coverage for the city centre and parts of Cardiff Bay.
For further information visit www.btopenzone.com
