Residents in a rural North Wales village have gained access to a mobile phone signal for the first time.
Clocaenog in Denbighshire had been without reliable mobile phone coverage for decades until a partnership between BT, Denbighshire County Council, Clocaenog Community Council and the Welsh Government was launched to plug the gap by bringing EE's network to the area. The project is also supported by additional funding from the Brenig Wind Farm Community Benefit Fund.
Installed on an existing lamppost in the centre of the village, the technology provides an innovative way of extending mobile coverage into rural communities, helping tackle long-standing ‘not-spots' in areas where traditional infrastructure can be more challenging to deploy.
Kris Longworth, a resident of Clocaenog for over four years, said:
“The new EE coverage has made a huge difference to everyday life here. Before, getting a mobile signal meant travelling outside the village, whereas now I can make calls around my home and stay connected while out walking locally. As someone who works from home, that flexibility makes a real difference, allowing me to keep on top of messages and calls when I'm away from my desk. It's also reassuring to know that if our broadband goes down, or if family members need to get in touch while they're out and about, we now have a reliable way to stay connected. For a rural community like ours, it's been a real game-changer.”
Susi Marston, Head of Public Sector Wales at BT Business, said:
“Bringing mobile connectivity to Clocaenog gives residents and local businesses opportunities they have never been able to access before. This partnership has been entirely focussed on working together to provide the community here with better connections to services, stronger links between people and more confidence to grow and plan for the future. Using ‘mini masts' means we are able to deliver the network services people need in a way which respects the unique character of the area.”
Adam Price, Cabinet Minister for Enterprise, Connectivity and Energy, said:
“Digital not-spots that cut communities off from modern life and economic opportunity have no place in our vision for Wales. As the new Welsh Government, we are committed to driving investment, innovation and higher productivity across Wales, and innovative projects like this will play an important part in delivering the stronger connectivity needed for the future Wales we want to foster.”
Earlier this year BT announced that EE had become the first UK operator to deliver reliable mobile connectivity the village of Penmachno in the Machno Valley, a few miles south of Betws-y-Coed.
