Wales invites broadband bids

• 
  Antony Savvas
• Published: 18 Apr 2005 12:00

The Welsh Assembly has issued a preliminary tendering document for potential bidders seeking contracts to supply broadband in Wales.

The document outlines the requirements that prospective infrastructure providers will have to meet in order for the Welsh Assembly to offer an “invitation to negotiate” for the Regional Innovative Broadband Support Scheme (RIBS), a match-funded project designed to achieve a competitive broadband infrastructure supply across the principality. 

Any invitation to bid will be announced in the Official Journal of the European Union later this year.

Andrew Davies, minister for economic development and transport and e-minister said, "Our objective is to improve the competitiveness of Wales by increasing the availability of affordable broadband across the country. Through the RIBS project we are seeking to bridge the digital divide and help future-proof the broadband environment in Wales.

"With broadband take-up increasing rapidly across Wales, this is a huge opportunity for suppliers to help us meet our objective and service the needs of businesses and consumers in Wales."

The preliminary tendering document is available from:

www.sell2wales.co.uk