A prominent MP has backed calls for extra North Wales Growth Deal funding to be targeted at digital infrastructure to help the economy “fly”.
The UK and Welsh Governments have agreed £120m each for the North Wales Growth Deal, to be spent on various projects across the six counties.
It includes £34m to develop digital connectivity – a figure described as “woefully inadequate” by Deeside Business Forum chair Askar Sheibani.
He wanted at least half of the £240m funding to go to digital.
Now Clwyd West MP David Jones has joined the debate - saying digital must be the “topmost, overriding priority”.
He praised the work done by the North Wales Economic Ambition Board to secure the funding and said the £34m would bring positive benefits to digital connectivity.
But he said more must be committed to this part of the deal – although this would have to come at the expense of other areas of the programme.
In a speech to the UK Fibre Connectivity Forum, he said: “It has to be questioned whether, ambitious as is, it could not be even more ambitious.
“When contrasted with what is happening in Northern Ireland (which he says is investing £150m into digital), it does look as though the jam is being spread rather thin.”
He added: “I believe that the Growth Deal should be aggressively focused on providing North Wales with the highest penetration possible of Fibre to the premises, seeking to place the region at the forefront of fibre provision anywhere in the UK.
“5G, in particular, can be a game-changer for a primarily rural region.
“But 5G needs swift full-fibre roll-out to the hundreds of base stations that will be required across North Wales.
“So the Growth Deal should be focused on delivering that.”
He urged bid bosses: “Make it your topmost, overriding priority.
“Give businesses the best possible environment in which to establish themselves – and just watch the North Wales economy fly.
“This is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to transform our region. Seize it now, with both hands.”
The Ambition Board has been asked to comment.
