£55m scheme to future-proof digital infrastructure approved
A £55 MILLION programme that will help equip the Swansea Bay City Region with world-class digital infrastructure has been approved by the UK Government and Welsh Government.
Estimated to be worth £318 million to the region in coming years, the Swansea Bay City Deal’s Digital Infrastructure programme will benefit residents and businesses throughout Carmarthenshire, Neath Port Talbot, Pembrokeshire and Swansea.
The latest news has been welcome by Vaughan Gething, Welsh Government Minister for the Economy, who said: “Investing in digital is crucial for our future success and this programme will be a real boost to the Swansea Bay City Region and vital in connecting people and places throughout the area.”
Led by Carmarthenshire Council, the programme is made up of three elements:
Connected Places: Ensuring the region’s cities, towns and business parks have competitive access to fullfibre connectivity
Rural: Improving access to broadband in the region’s rural communities
Next generation wireless: Paving the way for the region to benefit from 5G and ‘Internet of Things’ innovation
Government approval means the Digital Infrastructure programme can now start drawing down on a City Deal contribution of £25 million in coming years.
The programme manager is currently recruiting a team of professionals to deliver the three elements of the programme in partnership with key regional stakeholders, suppliers,
Welsh Government and UK Government.
In the next 12 months, anchor tenants will be sought to stimulate fibre investment in Swansea and other urban parts of the region, including Neath Port Talbot.
A strategic programme partner will also be appointed, alongside work to help regional local authorities boost take-up of broadband voucher schemes and other funding to improve connectivity in rural areas.
Further programme plans for the next year include working alongside the mobile industry to generate improved mobile coverage in the region.
A long-range, open access wireless network will also be deployed to make the most of the ‘Internet of Things’ by connecting home, business and mobile devices to the internet, which will enable better decisions and improved efficiencies.
Cllr Emlyn Dole, Carmarthenshire Council leader, said: “The importance of high-quality digital connectivity can’t be overstated. Digital connectivity underpins so much of daily life nowadays, whether it’s people going online to check their social media accounts or businesses liaising with customers or sending and receiving information.
“Approval of this programme is fantastic news for the Swansea Bay City Region because what is planned will help future-proof our digital infrastructure for many years. This is vital because as well as benefiting residents and businesses now, it will also lay the foundations for the region to benefit from digital innovation of the future in what’s such a fast-moving landscape.
“Both urban and rural workstreams are planned as part of the programme to ensure all parts of the City Region have opportunities for better digital connectivity.”