We are currently in the middle of a 'purple patch' of call centres

Assembly First Secretary Rhodri Morgan

In March, mobile phone company First Line announced it was to expand its operations in Cardiff and Swansea while British Telecom is set to open a new centre at Nantgarw near Caerphilly.

Swansea-based First Line already employs 2,500 people - and the continuing growth of the mobile phone market means that number is now set to rise by another 500.

The Cardiff and Swansea call centres will be expanded and a new base set up at Cwmbran.

Meanwhile BT confirmed plans to create another 800 new jobs in the south Wales Valleys.

The telecommunications giant is building a new call centre on a former colliery site at Nantgarw.

These new announcements have increased the numbers employed in call centres in Wales to around 12,000.

'Greater choice'

The Welsh Development Agency now has a dedicated call centre team while further education colleges have set up centres to train prospective staff in the industry.

Welsh Assembly First Secretary Rhodri Morgan has said service industries of this nature inject greater choice into the economy of Wales.

"We are currently in the middle of a 'purple patch' of call centres," he said.

"We are successful because we deliver a comprehensive package to both indigenous and inward investing companies."