Entertainment

Will new broadband work bring faster internet to rural Wales by early 2026?

Published

1 month ago

December 8, 2025

Wales is moving forward with plans that bring real internet coverage to areas where speeds fall short. The project now launched is built on data, fieldwork, returned funding and a clear digital objective. The timing and the scope are fixed, the tools are known, and the outcome is firm. Rural parts of Wales can expect change early in 2026.

A plan built for areas still waiting

The Welsh Government set aside £70 million to bring high-speed broadband to premises where 30Mbps is still out of reach. These areas sit outside all commercial and public rollout activity confirmed for the next three years.

The new effort uses returned funds from BT’s Superfast Cymru phase. Take-up levels went up, the clawback clause activated, and now the amount is being put back into the ground.

There are two LOTS in the framework. LOT 1 carries £60 million and targets clusters with 1,000 or more premises. LOT 2 carries £10 million and goes to smaller sites with fewer than 1,000.

The tender was open until November 26th, 2025. Contracts are expected to be handed out on 20 January 2026. Once awarded, the build can begin. The first results are expected soon.

Coverage gaps are actively targeted

As of mid-2025, around 97.6 percent of premises across Wales reach 30Mbps or more. Roughly 87.8 percent of those can access gigabit speeds. However, smaller areas still remain with lower coverage. These are the homes, farms, outbuildings, and business spots now included in the new plan.

The open market review defines the list. It checks all current commercial and government plans and picks only those premises outside them. That keeps the focus on gaps. It also stops money from going to areas already covered.

Installation cost per premise stands around £2,400. That is slightly higher than figures under Project Gigabit, which usually run under £2,000. Reaching these remote spots takes more work, more equipment, and more time. FTTP is the main option here, as fibre to the Premises means fast, direct access right at the socket.

Where the difference will be felt

This rollout reaches people and places with low speeds, weak lines and poor access to online services. The reach includes people working from rural homes, small business owners, live streamers, and residents who rely on online platforms for everyday tasks.

New coverage will also change how users access data-heavy services like online gaming, app-based tools, and systems that demand instant response and secure payments.

Faster internet helps with media, support platforms, and site features that rely on strong upload and download signals. Those who play online casino games on established gaming platforms will notice smoother delivery.

This type of gaming in the UK has grown steadily in recent years. It is driven by the ease of access from home and the steady shift toward digital formats. With stronger networks, features like live tables, high‑speed slots, and timed promotions can perform more reliably.

With the broadband upgrade, performance will be more consistent, and the interface will become more responsive, especially where visuals or payouts are involved.

Research that helped target the project

The Welsh Government commissioned Cwmpas to gather feedback from those living and working in the most affected areas. This research reached across all parts of Wales and focused on rural users. Respondents included students, self-employed workers, remote professionals, and community leaders.

The biggest age group was 54 to 63, which made up 31.4 percent of replies. The group with the lowest reply rate was 16 to 25, at just 1.45 percent.

Many users saw FTTP as the best solution. They wanted something that worked now, but they were ready to accept bridging options until the final system could be built. Every user surveyed asked for fast and reliable service. No one wanted to wait another three years.

UK Government feedback from similar research confirmed the trend. Those living in areas with limited coverage said they wanted better access for basic online actions, work‑from‑home tasks, and information services. Businesses said they needed faster lines for productivity, better access to cloud tools, and system stability for customer contact.

Support, structure and who builds it

The Welsh Government worked alongside Building Digital UK and local councils to avoid overlap and make sure that funding reached places without confirmed service. City and growth deals across Wales also had input. Coordination across all levels was a key part of planning.

The grant process will include requirements for environmental awareness. Past broadband builds asked providers to show how they would manage biodiversity, and this project will carry the same. Civil works for fibre take weeks, so early notice and open communication help ease disruption in each area.

While this is an infrastructure project, some users face extra difficulty once it goes live. Low income and low digital confidence can slow take-up. This was flagged in early assessments. Providers may offer setup guidance and local signposting to make sure coverage turns into real access.

The build also gives support to third sector groups. These groups use online tools to manage funding, communicate with teams and run outreach. Reliable broadband makes this simpler. The same applies to people using online learning, public service portals or tools with streaming content. It keeps users in touch with what matters.

Fixed timetable, clear impact

The contracts close in late 2025, and awards follow in January 2026. The first build phase starts just after that. Over time, the network will stretch into farms, valleys, border towns, hill properties, and distant coast spots. Each home and business added gets stable signal and a future‑proof line.

The aim is always steady access. Rural areas take longer to build into, but the model here has been tested and planned with care. Providers like Openreach, Ogi, Netomnia and Virgin Media all match the project size. Some need more backing than others, and some may only go after one LOT.

Service helps people stay productive. It lets platforms run with fewer errors. It removes the weak points in a stream or feed. Once the new lines go live, the full package of modern tools and services can follow. Wales stays online without lag, skips the drop, and cuts out the wait.

Charity

Charity medium night to raise funds for Cancer Research Wales in Milford Haven

Published

22 hours ago

January 12, 2026

Rieve Nesbitt-Marr

International spiritualist medium to appear at rugby club event

A CHARITY evening with an international spiritualist medium is set to take place in Milford Haven later this month, with all proceeds going to Cancer Research Wales.

The event will be held on Friday (Jan 16) at Milford Haven Rugby Club, and will feature a live demonstration by Lee Mills, who is described by organisers as an internationally recognised spiritualist medium.

Organised in support of Cancer Research Wales, the evening aims to raise funds for cancer research carried out in Wales. Organisers have confirmed that all proceeds raised on the night will be donated to the charity.

Doors open at 6:30pm, with the event starting at 7:00pm. Tickets are priced at £12, and the evening is a ticket-only event.

Those wishing to attend are advised to book in advance. Tickets can be available by contacting Sara on 07817 677632.

Organisers said the event offers local residents the chance to enjoy an evening of entertainment while also supporting a Welsh charity dedicated to funding life-saving cancer research.

Entertainment

Story of friendship and history becomes a profound study of complicated humanity

Published

4 days ago

January 9, 2026

Tom Sinclair

WITH the Torch Theatre’s popular £5 cinema ticket offer running throughout January and February, Eleanor the Great is a standout screening not to be missed.

The film features a remarkable central performance from June Squibb, who shines as Eleanor Morgenstein, a sharp-witted and spirited 94-year-old whose carefully told story begins to take on a dangerous life of its own.

Eleanor has always prided herself on staying connected to the world around her. Following a devastating loss, she leaves Florida for New York City to live with her daughter and grandson, hoping to rebuild family ties. Instead, she finds herself increasingly isolated and invisible. A chance encounter leads her into a support group where she does not quite belong, and in an unguarded moment she shares a story that unexpectedly draws attention she never intended to seek.

As a young journalism student begins to pursue Eleanor as both a friend and mentor, the consequences of that story grow increasingly complex. When the situation spirals beyond her control, Eleanor is forced to confront the truth — and the cost of the life she has allowed others to believe.

Critics have praised Squibb’s performance. The Guardian described her as giving “an enjoyably twinkly performance,” while Empire Magazine noted: “The plot is predictable and the look unmemorable, but Johansson has nevertheless crafted a pleasingly old-fashioned character piece with just enough bite to balance its emotion.”

In her directorial debut, Scarlett Johansson delicately weaves themes of ageing, family, loss and the blurred line between truth and deceit. What begins as a quiet story of friendship and memory gradually unfolds into a thoughtful and deeply human exploration of identity.

Eleanor the Great will be screened at the Torch Theatre on:

Friday, January 16 at 5:15pm
Saturday, January 17 at 4:15pm
Sunday, January 18 at 7:15pm
Tuesday, January 20 at 7:45pm

Tickets are priced at £5 as part of the January cinema offer. For more information, visit the Torch Theatre website or contact the Box Office on (01646) 695267.

Entertainment

Yasemin Özdemir’s journey from Pembrokeshire to the national stage

Published

5 days ago

January 8, 2026

Tom Sinclair

RAISED in a single-parent household in Pembrokeshire, Yasemin Özdemir relied on grants, scholarships and bursaries to pursue her ambition to act. This winter, that determination comes full circle as she takes to the stage alongside Michael Sheen in the inaugural production of the Welsh National Theatre.

From local youth theatre to professional training at the Royal Welsh College of Music & Drama, Özdemir has steadily built a career defined by drive and resilience. Now, she joins a landmark project that will see Thornton Wilder’s Pulitzer Prize-winning classic Our Town presented with a fully Welsh cast and creative team for the first time in the play’s eighty-seven-year history.

***Our Town by Thornton Wilder in rehearsals (Pic: Helen Murray)***

Özdemir first encountered Our Town in 2016 while preparing for drama school auditions and says she “fell in love with it instantly”. That same year, she played Juliet in the National Youth Theatre of Wales’ Romeo and Juliet. Nearly a decade on, she is part of the newly launched Welsh National Theatre’s debut production, co-produced with the Rose Theatre.

The production is directed by Swansea-born Francesca Goodridge, with Michael Sheen appearing as the Stage Manager and Russell T Davies serving as Creative Associate. It will tour venues across Wales before transferring to London.

***Our Town by Thornton Wilder cast (Pic: Helen Murray)***

A graduate of the Royal Welsh College of Music & Drama in 2020, Özdemir has already made her mark on stage and screen. Her theatre credits include Angel—which earned her a Best Lead Performance nomination at the 2022 OFFIES—alongside You Bury Me and Dance to the Bone. Television and film appearances include A Spy Among Friends (ITV), Vandullz (BBC) and the short film Yummy Mummy. Known for a dynamic physical presence and emotionally grounded performances, she brings energy and authenticity to the company’s opening production.

Speaking about her casting, Yasemin said: “Being part of Michael Sheen’s Welsh National Theatre feels like a full-circle moment for me. I know how passionate he is about discovering talent from all backgrounds, including those of us who’ve had to fight to access opportunities in the arts. I’m thrilled to bring this timeless story to life with such an incredible team.”

Director Francesca Goodridge added: “Bringing Our Town to life with a fully Welsh cast and creative team is a gift. The journeys through life, love and death that the play celebrates sit perfectly within a close-knit community. The Welsh word hiraeth—that deep longing for a place, person or time you can’t return to—is at the heart of this production.”

Michael Sheen said the tour would place Welsh voices firmly on the national stage:
“This is an incredible opportunity to present a Welsh interpretation of a classic that tours our nation and takes our voice to London, giving Welsh talent a platform to perform.”

Russell T Davies described the company’s launch as timely: “In this strange and maddening world, the emergence of a Welsh cultural force is exactly what we need. Our Town fits an intimate Welsh setting instantly and perfectly.”

The production will play Swansea Grand Theatre from Friday 16 January to Saturday 31 January 2026, followed by Venue Cymru (Tuesday 3 February–Saturday 7 February) and Theatr Clwyd (Wednesday 11 February–Saturday 21 February), before transferring to the Rose Theatre in Kingston-upon-Thames from Thursday 26 February to Saturday 28 March. Tickets are on sale now.