PRAISE FOR NORTH WALES VILLAGES LEADING ICT REVOLUTION

12 Jul 2002 06:00 PM

Andrew Davies, Minister for Economic Development, has praised two North Wales projects at the cutting edge of information technology.

Speaking at the e-Celt conference in Portmeirion today (Friday, 12 July), he picked out the Penrhyndeudraeth Network Village and proposals for a Digital Vale in Gwynedd as examples of how Wales could connect to the world.

Mr Davies said: "People must have affordable access to the global communications network, and the skills and trust to use it effectively.

"There are two projects nearby which are an excellent example of how communities can work with private sector business to bring enormous benefits to the local economy.

"One is the Digital Vale’s proposed objective one project which aims to provide always on, high bandwidth Internet access using wireless technology to over 1500 homes and businesses across Gwynedd.

"The other one is the Penrhyndeudraeth Network Village project which has successfully demonstrated how communities can be pro-actively encouraged to get on-line."

Penrhyndeudraeth is the first Networked Village in the UK. A strong local partnership is involved in a number of innovative projects - including the rollout of Internet ready PCs to households, local support clinics, seminars and online training to European accredited level.

Mr Davies also took the opportunity to stress the importance of the newly launched Broadband Wales scheme – the UK’s largest public sector investment in ICT infrastructure.

"The Broadband Wales programme, which I launched yesterday, will bring the latest technology to 310,000 extra homes and 67,000 extra businesses in Wales. It is a crucial leap forward in developing a knowledge-based economy.

"It will bring broadband to virtually all new and existing business parks in Wales, which have identified a need and it will mount a high-profile awareness-raising campaign to promote the benefits of broadband. There will also be a ‘try before you buy’ scheme for businesses."

Notes:

 The E-Celt Conference aims to take best practice from Community lead innovations in the Celtic Countries, eg Network Village, CAIT, Digital Communities. It is also looking at how community initiative become business initiative for the good of the local economy.

 The Broadband Wales programme - worth £80 million over the next three years and at least £100 million over it’s lifetime - will be delivered through a new expert unit within the Assembly Government headed by a new high-profile programme director. It will start work immediately and become fully operational by April 2003.

 Bringing affordable broadband within reach of more areas of Wales will help Welsh companies to become more competitive, open up opportunities for online learning and help deliver services more effectively.

(12 July, 2002)