The Welsh Government’s £10m Local Broadband Fund, which was setup in 2020 to help local authorities and social enterprises to deliver broadband projects to areas that need it, has been given a funding “boost” of £9m. The money will provide better connectivity to communities in Cardiff, Newport, Vale of Glamorgan and North Wales.
The fund has already helped a number of projects across Wales, such last year’s investment to help build a gigabit-capable Fibre-to-the-Premises (FTTP) network to serve a number of “hard to reach properties” in Powys and Monmouthshire etc. Not to mention helping to support and extend the existing community FTTP build in Michaelston y Fedw (here).
As part of today’s funding announcement, the WG also revealed that a further four projects have now been awarded funding – reflecting communities in Cardiff, Newport, Vale of Glamorgan and North Wales. Newport City Council has received funding for a scheme to improve gigabit capable full fibre connectivity and the provision of in-building assistive technology, and telecare services to three Adult Residential Care homes in the City of Newport. The project will help improve quality of life.
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However, a significant part of the new investment (£7.7m) will go to Cardiff Council to provide broadband to 1,219 homes currently not able to achieve broadband speeds of 30Mbps. Properties considered high in the Welsh Index of Multiple Deprivation 2019 (WIMD) were given priority. Sadly, no information is revealed concerning the other two projects in the Vale of Glamorgan and North Wales.
Deputy Minister for Climate Change, Lee Waters said:
“Fast and reliable broadband is more important than ever. While this area is not devolved to Wales, we are taking action through our Local Broadband Fund and various other schemes to bring better connectivity to some of the hardest to reach parts of Wales. Good quality digital connectivity underpins everything we do digitally and is the foundation to achieving our ambitious Digital strategy for Wales.
The fund is already delivering a real difference to communities across Wales and today I am delighted to announce further schemes that will benefit from this funding. Broadband is a key utility and we’ll continue to support all efforts to boost connections the length and breadth of Wales.”
Sadly, the WG’s page for the fund itself – https://gov.wales/local-broadband-fund – continues to lack any meaningful summaries or progress updates on the projects that have actually secured funding. This kind of detail is important to help the public to independently assess what kind of impact the investment has had and where.
£7.7m out of £9m.to Cardiff Council. Doesn’t leave much for us in North Wales. (As usual)
Announced on the same day they announce that the Wales Top-Up for Gigabit vouchers has been terminated with immediate effect due to the budget running out. Left hand… Right hand…
Seems pointless when all those areas already have lots of buildout going on.
What about us in villages who have no ultra fast options anytime soon?
Surprise, surprise – nothing for West Wales as usual.