English: Can I say how proud I am to have taken part in the production of this report and to also make note of the very adequate way in which the Chair has taken us through the procedures needed? The EIS committee's report on digital infrastructure throws up a number of questions, but first I would like to acknowledge the excellent progress that the Welsh Government has made with the massive expansion of the connectivity levels in Wales with its superfast broadband project. But the former Cabinet Secretary, in evidence to the economy and infrastructure - I say 'former'; I'm afraid I see you're still sitting with us and you're still going to answer the questions there, Minister. But the Cabinet Secretary, in evidence to the economy and infrastructure committee, stated that there was a very real possibility that BT may miss its December deadline for the full implementation of its remit, and there seemed to be some confusion as to how to proceed with the implementation of the contract to eliminate the residual notspots. It would help if we could have absolute clarity as to how and when and what form this procurement process will take. We also heard that the take-up of high-speed broadband, when it became available, has not been as expected. It has been concluded that this could be put down to a lack of information from BT and, to a certain extent, the Welsh Government, as to the advantages superfast can bring to the business sector. Again, there seems to have been a great deal of confusion as to exactly when and where superfast broadband had been made available. This was particularly frustrating for the business sector. It would be beneficial to know if this has now been adequately addressed and if there is evidence available to show that take-up figures have improved over recent months. We do note and acknowledge that the Welsh Government has set up an exploitation fund, levered from a number of sources, which is designed to help business engage with this new technology and it will be interesting to see if this fund will achieve its aims. It is said that, at the end of the Superfast Cymru contract with BT, there is estimated to be around 4 per cent of the country without superfast broadband. We acknowledge that filling this gap will be far more expensive per connection than under the last contract, but we urge the Welsh Government to press on with its excellent progress made so far and make superfast broadband universal throughout Wales, and, in so doing, make Wales one of the world leaders in online access. Turning to mobile phone coverage, again we acknowledge the progress made so far, but a number of obstacles have been identified by mobile suppliers, citing such things as planning delays, access to land, difficulty with electricity supply, and arrangements with necessary traffic disruptions. We urge the Welsh Government to use all its powers to alleviate these obstacles so that even rural Wales will be free of the scourge of notspots - a situation that has been cited as being one of the main factors inhibiting business growth in our rural communities. Again, we wish to acknowledge the excellent progress made in this area by the Welsh Government and offer our support in its further implementation.
Welsh: A gaf fi ddweud pa mor falch wyf fi o fod wedi cymryd rhan yn y broses o gynhyrchu'r adroddiad hwn a thynnu sylw hefyd at y ffordd gymwys iawn y mae'r Cadeirydd wedi ein harwain drwy'r gweithdrefnau angenrheidiol? Mae adroddiad y Pwyllgor Economi, Seilwaith a Sgiliau ar seilwaith digidol yn codi nifer o gwestiynau, ond yn gyntaf hoffwn gydnabod y cynnydd rhagorol y mae Llywodraeth Cymru wedi'i wneud mewn perthynas ag ehangu lefelau cysylltedd ar raddfa fawr yng Nghymru gyda'i phrosiect band eang cyflym iawn. Ond dywedodd Ysgrifennydd blaenorol y Cabinet, mewn tystiolaeth i'r pwyllgor economi a seilwaith - rwy'n dweud 'blaenorol'; mae gennyf ofn fy mod yn gweld eich bod yn dal i eistedd gyda ni ac y byddwch yn dal i ateb y cwestiynau, Weinidog. Ond dywedodd Ysgrifennydd y Cabinet, mewn tystiolaeth i'r pwyllgor economi a seilwaith fod posibilrwydd go iawn y gallai BT fethu ei derfyn amser ym mis Rhagfyr ar gyfer gweithredu ei gylch gwaith yn llawn, ac roedd hi'n ymddangos bod peth dryswch ynglŷn â sut i fwrw ymlaen â gweithrediad y cytundeb i gael gwared ar y mannau gwan sydd ar ôl. Buasai o gymorth pe gallem gael eglurder llwyr ynglŷn â sut a phryd a pha ffurf fydd i'r broses gaffael hon. Clywsom hefyd nad yw'r nifer sy'n manteisio ar fand eang cyflym, pan fo ar gael, cymaint â'r disgwyl. Daethpwyd i'r casgliad mai'r rheswm am hynny o bosibl yw diffyg gwybodaeth gan BT, a Llywodraeth Cymru i ryw raddau, am y manteision y gall band eang cyflym iawn eu cynnig i'r sector busnes. Unwaith eto, ymddengys bod llawer iawn o ddryswch wedi bod ynglŷn â phryd a ble yn union y mae band eang cyflym iawn ar gael. Roedd hyn yn arbennig o rwystredig i'r sector busnes. Buasai'n fuddiol gwybod a yw'r mater wedi cael sylw digonol bellach ac a oes tystiolaeth ar gael i ddangos bod niferoedd defnyddwyr wedi gwella dros y misoedd diwethaf. Rydym yn nodi ac yn cydnabod bod Llywodraeth Cymru wedi sefydlu cronfa ddatblygu, wedi'i dwyn ynghyd o nifer o ffynonellau ac wedi'i chynllunio i helpu busnesau i ymgysylltu â'r dechnoleg newydd hon a bydd yn ddiddorol gweld a fydd y gronfa'n cyflawni ei hamcanion. Ar ddiwedd y cytundeb rhwng Cyflymu Cymru a BT, amcangyfrifir y bydd tua 4 y cant o'r wlad heb fand eang cyflym iawn. Rydym yn cydnabod y bydd llenwi'r bwlch hwn yn ddrutach o lawer fesul cysylltiad nag o dan y cytundeb diwethaf, ond rydym yn annog Llywodraeth Cymru i fwrw ymlaen â'r cynnydd ardderchog y mae wedi'i wneud hyd yma a darparu band eang cyflym iawn drwy Gymru gyfan, ac wrth wneud hynny, sicrhau bod Cymru yn un o arweinwyr y byd mewn perthynas â mynediad ar-lein. Gan droi at signal ffonau symudol, rydym unwaith eto'n cydnabod y cynnydd a wnaed hyd yn hyn, ond nodwyd nifer o rwystrau gan gyflenwyr ffonau symudol sy'n cyfeirio at bethau fel oedi ym maes cynllunio, mynediad i dir, anawsterau gyda chyflenwad trydan, a threfniadau angenrheidiol i darfu ar draffig. Rydym yn annog Llywodraeth Cymru i ddefnyddio ei holl bwerau i liniaru'r rhwystrau hyn er mwyn i gefn gwlad Cymru hyd yn oed fod yn rhydd o boendod mannau gwan - sefyllfa sydd wedi cael ei nodi fel un o'r prif ffactorau sy'n rhwystro twf busnes yn ein cymunedau gwledig. Unwaith eto, hoffem gydnabod y cynnydd rhagorol a wnaed yn y maes hwn gan Lywodraeth Cymru a chynnig ein cefnogaeth gyda'i weithredu ymhellach.