ITWales.com
Gywnedd wireless broadband scheme takes off
A community-driven wireless broadband project has secured nearly £0.5 million in European funding for a £1.8 million scheme that will
provide broadband Internet access in the Blaenau Ffestiniog, Maentwrog, Penrhyndeudraeth, Talsarnau, Harlech and Porthmadog areas.
Deudraeth Cyf, in partnership with Gaia Technologies Ltd, has successfully applied for a total of £1.8m under European and Objective 1
funding programmes with match funding coming from Gwynedd Council and the Welsh Assembly Government's local regeneration fund and Pathway
to Prosperity fund, also from the Welsh Assembly Government.
The Digital Vale project, which is being delivered by the Penrhyndeudraeth community regeneration agency, will use radio technology to
offer cost effective, fast, always on Internet access to 1500 homes and businesses. It's expected that home subscribers will be charged
around
£15 - £18 per month.
The network will allow homes and business to access e-mail and the Internet at speeds as good as those experienced by ADSL users.
Deudraeth Cyf will use the unlicensed 802.11b frequency, and will initially focus on delivering Internet connectivity to homes and
business. However, it will look to expand its offering to include other services such as data back-up services, voice over IP
communications and online training in the future.
The project was launched on 14 February by
Lord Dafydd Elis Thomas, presiding officer of the National Assembly for Wales and Assembly Member for Meirionydd.
Dewi Lewis, chairman of Deudraeth Cyf noted, "This is another innovative project growing out of the success of the Networked Village.
Deudraeth Cyf once again shows the value of partnership working with the various public bodies in Wales for the benefit of the local
community".
Penrhyndeudraeth became the UK's first Networked Village in 1998 by bringing modern technology to residents and businesses in a rural
village.
"As a Council we are very proud to have secured funding and provided practical support for such a revolutionary project. This scheme
demonstrates how a strong working partnership between the Council and community groups can lead to the development of successful
Objective 1 projects, resulting in very real economic benefits," said Cllr Tomos Evans, Gwynedd's Lead Councillor for Economic Funding.
"This project will no doubt contribute to changing the perception that business can only work from cities, and will prove that a rural
area in Gwynedd is a viable and safe location from which to take part in the information society."
The network rollout is underway, and is expected to be completed in a few months time. Deudraeth Cyf hopes that broadband service will be
available later this year. Any interested parties should contact Deudraeth Cyf. on 01766 771 796 or email
digital.vale@penrhyndeudraeth.com.
Deudraeth Cyf. was established in July of 2000 to develop community regeneration projects in the Penrhyndeudraeth and receives continues
support from the Welsh Development Agency's Community regeneration tool kit.
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