Community broadband projects in Llangors, Pennorth and Llanywern and in Llangynidr have reached the stage where properties are now being connected with ultrafast fibre to the premises.
Both schemes have been supported by Powys County Council (PCC) and have made progress thanks to the hard work of the community groups involved and their chosen supplier, Beacons Telecom.
The connections, to households that have registered an interest and are willing to sign up to a 12-month contract with Beacons Telecom, are being funded by the UK Government’s Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport through its Rural Gigabit Voucher Scheme and Welsh Government through its Welsh Top Up.
These two projects will lead to an investment of more than £250,000 in the area and will connect over 190 properties.
Cllr Beverley Baynham, PCC’s Portfolio Holder for Corporate Governance and Regulatory Services, said: “We are trying to level the playing field when it comes to access to digital services, so that Powys businesses and communities have the same opportunities as those in other areas. I would like to encourage other communities, with poor connectivity, to get in touch to find out how they can set up similar projects in their areas too.”
If you want help to set up your own community broadband scheme in Powys, or to join an existing one, contact the council’s community broadband officer at: [email protected].
PCC has supported the Llangors, Pennorth and Llanywern, and Llangynidr Community Broadband Schemes as part of its Digital Powys project, which aims to help businesses and communities to stay connected. It is also part of its Transformation Programme to deliver aspirations in its Vision 2025 corporate improvement plan.
