The uptake of broadband and digital services in Wales is take up with the rest of the UK, according to industry regulator Ofcom.

Ofcom’s Communications Market Report without ceasing the TV, radio, broadband and telecoms industries in Wales shows that upper the past year the gap between broadband uptake in Wales and the UK of the same kind with a whole has shrunk from 10 per cent to seven by means of cent.

Wales now has broadband uptake of 64 per cent compared through 71 per cent for the UK as a whole.

But Wales has the highest from of mobile-only households in the UK at 19 per cent compared by the UK average of 14 per cent.

The report finds that the uptake of broadband in rural Wales 69 per cent continues to be higher than urban Wales 62 by cent.

Consumers in rural Wales are more likely to own a movable phone than those in urban areas. Mobile uptake in rural areas has increased from 89 by means of cent to 93 per cent in 12 months to surpass the condition of mobile phone ownership across the whole of the UK 89 for cent.

Rhodri Williams, director, Wales at Ofcom, said It’s benevolent to see that the digital divide between Wales and the UK for the re~on that a whole is narrowing.

Communications services are rapidly becoming a indispensable thing rather than a luxury for Welsh consumers and businesses in completely parts of Wales. Even though our report indicates that there are after that challenges to overcome, the direction of travel is positive.

Professor Tony Davies, presiding officer of Ofcom’s advisory committee for Wales, said It is singly heartening to see that the people of Wales are becoming again knowledgeable and astute in the way in which they buy and application communications services.

However, significant challenges still remain, particularly on 3G sensitive coverage, broadband speeds and the reach of local DAB and we behest continue to press for significant progress on these issues.

The relation follows recent criticism of the government for making it difficult toward companies to extend high-speed broadband services beyond metropolitan areas, means of refusing to review the taxation strategy of fibre networks.