New project to help improve broadband coverage (From Western Telegraph)

New project to help improve broadband coverage

1:52pm Wednesday 5th September 2012 in News

Grants are being made available to improve broadband coverage in rural and deprived communities across the county, thanks to £345,000 of European funding.

Under the Connecting Communities project, communities with broadband speeds under 2mbps (megabytes per second) will be given priority for funding for "alternative affordable technological solutions", according to a report put before the council cabinet on Monday.

Cabinet spokesman for economy, tourism and communities, David Pugh, said projects are already underway at Angle, Wiston and Spittal, with more in the pipeline in the New Moat, Maenclochog, Letterston and Scleddau areas.

The project, which is funded through the Rural Development Plan for Wales, will work with internet providers to bring satellite and wireless technology to local communities and provide community hubs for internet access.

Grants are available for personal and business use to pay for installation, wireless antennae or satellite equipment, routers and networking hardware.

The cost will vary from area-to-area depending on how many people take-up the scheme, but is unlikely to be more than £35,000 for each community project.

Cllr Pugh said: "There have been a lot of people talking to us about the project, but they have not come forward with an application yet.

"There need to be at least 15 people interested per application, but the more people who join the cheaper it is," he added.

"The project will solve the problem of slow broadband and intermittent connection by looking at the specific area and deciding on the best solution."

For more information contact 01437 775538.