The Swansea Bay City Region has secured approval for a 拢55m digital infrastructure programme under its 拢1.3bn City Deal.
Led by Carmarthenshire County Council the digital infrastructure programme is made up of three elements:
Connected Places: Ensuring the region鈥檚 cities, towns and business parks have competitive access to full-fibre connectivity;
Rural: Improving access to broadband in the region鈥檚 rural communities; and
Next generation wireless: Paving the way for the region to benefit from 5G and internet of things innovation.
The 拢1.3bn City Deal and its nine projects, includes projected leverage finance of 拢637m from the private sector. while the Welsh and 海角视频 governments have committed 拢241m in backing. The four local authorities that make up the region, in Pembrokeshire, Carmarthenshire, Swansea and Neath Port Talbot will also use their borrowing powers to support projects.
Approval for the digital infrastructure programme from the 海角视频 and Welsh governments means the region can now draw down 拢25m in City Deal funding.
The reminder of the funding is expected to come from other public sector sources (拢13.5m) and the private sector investment (拢16.5m).
The programme manager is currently recruiting a team to deliver the three elements of the programme in partnership with key regional stakeholders, suppliers and the Welsh and 海角视频 governments.
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鈥 by connecting home, business and mobile devices to the internet. This includes smart home, smart agriculture and smart manufacturing technology, as well as wearable technology in the healthcare and assisted living sectors.
Leader of Carmarthenshire County Council, Emlyn Dole, said: 鈥淭he importance of high quality digital connectivity can鈥檛 be overstated. Digital connectivity underpins so much of daily life nowadays, whether it鈥檚 people going online to check their social media accounts or businesses liaising with customers or sending and receiving information.
鈥淎pproval of this programme is fantastic news for the Swansea Bay City Region because what鈥檚 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鈥檚 such a fast-moving landscape.
鈥淏oth 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.
鈥淭his will encourage our businesses to stay within the region, while also helping attract further investment and job opportunities throughout Carmarthenshire, Neath Port Talbot, Pembrokeshire and Swansea.
鈥淎long with other projects and programmes being part-funded by the Swansea Bay City Deal, this will accelerate our region鈥檚 economic recovery from Covid-19.鈥
Vaughan Gething, Welsh Government Minister for the Economy, said: 鈥淭he coronavirus pandemic has highlighted the power and importance of digital in how we live and work.
鈥淚nvesting 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. It will also help address connectivity issues in rural areas and attract inward investment.
鈥淚 am excited to see how this important initiative will benefit businesses and residents as we work to return to the economic growth we were seeing before the coronavirus pandemic.鈥
Wales Office Minister David TC Davies said: 鈥淟ightning fast digital connectivity and strong mobile coverage across Wales is hugely important for our economy, bringing significant benefits to individuals and businesses.
鈥淚mproving our digital infrastructure is a priority for the 海角视频 Government as we pursue one of the fastest broadband rollouts in Europe. As we build back better from the pandemic, we continue to support growth, jobs, investment and innovation.鈥
