Welsh rural broadband roll-out confirmed The CLA added that the BT contract must include penalties for any failure to meet time and coverage requirements and payments to BT must be performance related to ensure a fast and effective broadband service is rolled out to rural areas. BT, which is already rolling-out fibre broadband to half of Wales, claimed speeds will rise by a factor of 15, and more if users require it. The company said it would create or protect hundreds of its own jobs, as well as contributing to the creation of thousands more. BT is investing approximately £220 million in Welsh fibre broadband, while the Welsh Government is contributing £58 million, Broadband Development UK, based in London, is contributing £57 million and the European Regional Development Fund £90 million. Wales" First Minister, Carwyn Jones, said: "This is an incredibly important agreement for Wales. Our partnership with BT will see to it that Wales does more than simply catch up with our neighbours; we intend to catch-up, overtake and then set the pace that others will strive to match. Liv Garfield, chief executive of BT Openreach, said the scheme would make Wales "one of the best connected countries in the world." BT's network will be offered on a wholesale basis to interent service providers for public sale.