City region to be boosted by major digital upgrade
A MULTI-MILLION pound investment is on the way to boost digital connectivity across the Swansea Bay City Region.
The £55 million Digital Infrastructure project is among those due to be partfunded by the Swansea Bay City Deal that will together help accelerate regional economic recovery from Covid19.
Led by Carmarthenshire Council, the project is aimed at benefiting residents and businesses in all parts of the city region, which also includes Neath Port Talbot, Pembrokeshire and Swansea.
The Digital Infrastructure project, estimated to be worth £318 million to the regional economy in the next 15 years, is split into three themes:
Connected Places: Ensuring the region’s towns, cities and development zones have access to world-class, fullfibre digital infrastructure;
Rural: Enabling equality of access to broadband services across the region;
Next Generation Wireless: Ensuring that the region is at the forefront of 5G and Internet of Things investment and innovation.
The project, which has already been approved by Pembrokeshire Council, will soon be considered for approval at Swansea, Carmarthenshire and Neath Port Talbot Councils.
Subject to the green light by all, the project will then be considered for approval at the Swansea Bay City Deal’s Joint Committee before submission to the UK Government and Welsh Government for final sign-off.
Councillor Rob Stewart, chairman of the Swansea Bay City Deal’s Joint Committee, said: “Creating digital infrastructure that binds our communities together and underpins our plans for economic transformation is critical to the success of our ambitious plans for the future of the region.
“The Covid pandemic has highlighted the importance of fast, reliable broadband and mobile connectivity. Without it many businesses and services would have not been able to continue.”
The Digital Infrastructure project is seeking a £25 million City Deal investment, with remaining funding contributions split between the public and private sectors.
Inward investment of £30 million is estimated throughout the five-year delivery phase of the project.
Funded by the UK Government, the Welsh Government, the public sector and the private sector, the Swansea Bay City Deal is being led by Carmarthenshire, Neath Port Talbot, Pembrokeshire and Swansea Councils in partnership with Swansea University, the University of Wales Trinity Saint David, Swansea Bay University Health Board and Hywel Dda University Health Board.