* Broadband advisor Geraint Strello. Picture by Mandy Jones
Llangollen features in a major campaign to get rural North Wales connected after it was revealed that one in six homes has no access to superfast broadband.
The aim of the Rural
Digital Connectivity project is to help householders, businesses and
organisations across the region overcome the problems of being located in
so-called not spots.
The scheme to
combat the digital deficit is being masterminded by Ambition North Wales and
funded by the UK Shared Prosperity Fund
It’s being rolled
out on their behalf by two rural enterprise agencies, Anglesey-based Menter Môn
in the west and Denbighshire-based Cadwyn Clwyd in the east.
They’re organising
a series of Connectivity Clinics where experts are available to offer free
advice and guidance on getting reliable and fast internet access.
This includes one at Llangollen Library from 10am-1pm on Thursday, August 29.
For anybody who
can’t attend any of the sessions they’ve also produced a free,
easy-to-understand Connectivity Guide to help people get to grips with the
problem and which is available on the website www.connectivity.cymru
Among the advisors
running the clinics is Geraint Strello, who has over 40 years experience in the
ICT industry.
According to
Geraint, gaining access to superfast broadband won’t just open up new
opportunities for internet shopping, game-playing and homeworking, it could
just save your life and even increase the value of your home.
He said: “While
many properties in North Wales do have access to superfast broadband it’s
important that we don’t forget those that don’t and our aim is to make them
aware of the opportunities available to bring a high speed service to them.
“The benefits
could be huge, not just for the access to information and for work but there
are services which can monitor people’s well-being and enable them to live more
independently.
“For example,
there are monitoring systems that can learn the normal routine of those living
in the property and if something changes dramatically, for example if the
toilet is flushed numerous times in the middle of the night, or the front or
back door left open, an alarm will be triggered.
“There are sensors
that monitor carbon dioxide levels and if it hasn’t changed for a couple of
days it would mean no-one has visited so keeping an eye on this reduces the
risk of social isolation for vulnerable people.
“There are lots of
applications out there which can change people’s lives for the better in
relatively unobtrusive ways.”
He said that for
those currently struggling for a service over a fixed line there could be
options to access 4 or 5G mobile broadband or a satellite connection.
He added: “Advisors
from Menter Môn and Cadwyn Clwyd and Denbighshire County Council will be at
events across North Wales to give advice, answer their questions and explain
what will work best for them.
“When you think
about how far we’ve come and the geography of the region then it’s a positive
story, but there is more work to do and if you live in a remote location then
it could cost you more but there may be help available.
Just under
three-quarters of homes in Wales have full-fibre broadband compared to 78 per
cent in Scotland, 85 per cent in England and 97 per cent in Northern Ireland.
In North Wales, the Denbighshire percentage is just 18.5.
Kiki Rees-Stavros,
of Menter Mon, is leading on the project in North West Wales in the counties of
Ynys Môn, Gwynedd and Conwy while Helen Williams, of Cadwyn Clwyd, and Philip
Burrows from Denbighshire County Council are leading on the project in North East
Wales in the counties of Denbighshire, Flintshire and Wrexham,
Kiki said: “We’re
particularly targeting householders and businesses with low broadband speeds
but our advice is relevant for anyone who wants to improve their speed.
“We want to raise
awareness of the steps they can take to boost their connectivity we will be
holding drop-in sessions across North Wales as the project continues.
“We have
identified the areas with the highest proportion of premises with low broadband
speeds and while we are targeting people with low speeds our advice is relevant
to anyone who wants to improve their broadband reception.
Helen added:
“Essentially we are the honest broker telling people what their options are to
get an improved broadband service because it makes such a big difference.
“It gives many
people the opportunity to work or even run a business from home and it can also
boost the value of that home.
“It can open up so
many opportunities because there’s such a shift in the way people use
technology and bandwidth with often several devices operating in the same
property at once.”
Details of further events will be posted on the website. The project runs until October 31 in Wrexham and until December 31 in the five other North Wales counties.
* For more information on improving broadband connectivity and for details of the sessions across North Wales go to www.connectivity.cymru
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