FOLLOWING the success of a pilot project bringing high speed internet to rural communities in Powys, residents in a remote part of Radnorshire could be in line for a broadband boost.

Work began in October on a community broadband scheme covering several remote areas of Powys that will involve investment of more than £250,000 and connect more than 150 properties.

The pilot project was launched by Powys County Council in March 2021 with the aim of bringing high speed broadband to rural communities.

The initial pilot focused on improving broadband connection in three communities – Aberedw, Llanafan Fawr and Llanwrthwl and further north in Dwyriw and Manafon.

The UK Government’s department for digital, culture, media and sport and Welsh Government are paying for the project, through the UK Gigabit Voucher Scheme, which will be delivered by contractor Broadway Partners.

And now the Hundred House and Franksbridge areas are being encouraged to join in. A group called Glascwm Phase 2 (North) Community Gigabit Fibre Broadband Scheme has been set up on Facebook, explaining what the steps are and what the advantages of Gigabit fibre are.

Broadband service provider Broadway Partners, who specialise in delivering broadband to rural areas, have been granted the contract to deliver and improve the broadband in the area.

“Currently, the BT/Openreach broadband network in our area relies on fibre to a cabinet then copper to our properties,” said Jeremy Andrews, who created the Glascwm Phase 2 Facebook group.

“The further away from the cabinet we live, the slower that broadband speed becomes. Copper cables can be old and as many of us know when it rains the connection speed can reduce even lower.

“With more of us streaming movies and working from home demand on this old technology is high and BT/Openreach have said there are no plans to upgrade the broadband in our area.

“Using Welsh and UK Government funding its possible for us as a community to work with Powys County Council and a fibre broadband company called Broadway to provide a fibre to the house network across the whole of north Glascwm. That means to every farm and house.

“However, for this project to succeed, there needs to be a large percentage of us willing to sign up to say we are interested. This does not mean signing up for a contract but just to say that in principal you are interested in the scheme.

“Currently, the cheapest fibre product from Broadway is under £20 a month and the slowest speed they offer is significantly faster than what any other company can provide on the BT/Openreach network.”

To find out more, join the group or visit https://www.broadwaybroadband.co.uk/broadband.