Rural Ceredigion Digital Plan

Ceredigion Council works on improving the county's urban-rural digital divide.

12:53 01 December 2020

Ceredigion is set to become the first in Wales to have a countrywide loRaWAN (Long Range Wide Area Network). The network is set to be installed by early 2021 and is expected to improve the county's urban-rural digital divide.

 

Members of the corporate resources overview and scrutiny committee were told that the network has been designed to allow low-powered devices and sensors to communicate with internet-connected applications over long-range wireless connections. They were also given an update on projects that aim to improve broadband connectivity and mobile coverage along with various funding opportunities for businesses and residents. They have also heard about the Universal Service Obligation (USO) for broadband, a UK-wide measure to deliver broadband to those premises that do not have access to decent and affordable broadband connection. 

 

Dave Owen, the council's digital development officer, said that the authority is "committed to being one of the best connected rural localities in the UK." 

 

The project is part of the Welsh Government's Superfast Cymru scheme, which has been extended to cover additional 2,7000 premises. Currently, the scheme had reached 23per cent of homes and businesses in the region.

 

There will also be improvements using Openreach (BT) community fibre partnership and a mobile Shared Rural Network.