rhyngrwyd

Rhyngrwyd is the Welsh term for the internet, the global system of interconnected computer networks that enables the transmission of data, communications, and access to information and services. It links millions of private, public, academic, business and government networks through standardized protocols, notably TCP/IP. Its services include email, file sharing, the World Wide Web, streaming, video conferencing and social media.

In Welsh, rhyngrwyd is used to refer to both the internet and cyberspace, and is common in media, education and government discourse. The definite form “y rhyngrwyd” is frequently used in Welsh writing and speech. The term forms part of contemporary Welsh lexicon and is taught in language planning and digital literacy programs.

Historically, the concept emerged from late-20th-century networking research and expanded rapidly with public access to the internet. In Wales, adoption accelerated during the 1990s and 2000s through public policy and initiatives aimed at broadband rollout, digital literacy, and the development of Welsh-language online resources. Welsh institutions have promoted online access to education, news, culture and government services in the Welsh language.

The rhyngrwyd has had a wide-ranging cultural and economic impact, enabling Welsh-language content, online education, civic participation and global communication. It also presents challenges, including digital inclusion, privacy and cybersecurity, and the need to ensure access in rural areas and to maintain reliable, quality Welsh-language online resources.