Council receive £60,000 in funding to grow wireless infrastructure

The funding from Welsh Government will be used to extend the LoRaWAN network that the Council has been creating across the county and will also provide free Wi-Fi in Llandudno town centre.

Using various funding opportunities over recent years, the Council has established a digital and communications wireless infrastructure, which is free to use for schools, business, the public sector and the public.

The long-range, low-powered wide-area network (LoRaWAN) is a type of wireless communication that allows data to be collected from sensors across the network.

The data can then be presented to the council or other decision makers to help them make informed decisions.

Cllr Aaron Wynne, Cabinet Member responsible for Information Technology and Digital Transformation at Conwy County Borough Council, said: “To date we’ve been using this network to collect data for flood and water levels, and to measure fresh air and temperature in schools.”

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“We’re delighted we’ll be able to extend this network, so that we can expand our data gathering to help us understand changing behaviour on active travel, climate change, economy, education and transport.

“It also means that more Conwy businesses, particularly in the rural areas, will be able to benefit from this technology.”

Economy Minister Vaughan Gething said: “LoRaWAN revolutionises how data can be gathered, and has huge potential to help us improve how services are delivered.

“It can assist us in making more informed decisions, benefitting our lives.

“I am delighted we are supporting Conwy County Borough Council to expand its digital wireless infrastructure, and I look forward to seeing how these little sensors can be used to make a big difference to residents, businesses and communities.”

The work to extend the network is underway and is scheduled to be completed in the new year.