ULTRAFAST fibre broadband is on its way to two more rural communities in Powys, thanks to a pilot project led by the county council.

The schemes in Aberedw and Glascwm, and in Dwyriw and Manafon, were initially supported through Arwain, a collaboration between the European Agricultural Fund for Rural Development and the Welsh Government.

And it has now received UK Government funding through its Rural Gigabit Voucher Scheme and the Welsh Government’s Welsh Top Up.

A survey of the existing infrastructure in the two communities is now being carried out by Broadway Partners – the supplier involved in both schemes – to assess which of the households that have registered an interest can be reached immediately and which will require more work to provide access through telegraph poles or underground ducts before fibre broadband to the premises can be installed.

These two projects will lead to an investment of more than £450,000 in the area and will connect over 300 properties.

Councillor Beverley Baynham, Powys County Council’s portfolio holder for corporate governance and regulatory services, said: “We set up the pilot scheme to help these two Powys communities to improve their broadband access and in doing this we are also developing a toolkit to help other communities in the county with the same process.”

If you live in Aberedw and Glascwm, near Builth Wells, or in Dwyriw and Manafon further north in Montgomeryshire, and are interested in getting ultrafast fibre broadband you can still register your interest; contact the council’s community broadband officer via broadband@powys.gov.uk.

Each community also has its own dedicated Facebook pages – the Aberedw & Glascwm Community Broadband Scheme and Dwyriw and Manafon Community Broadband Scheme.

If you live in Powys, but not in the identified pilot areas, and would like further information on maximising your broadband or the grants and support available to help improve connectivity, it can be found on the council’s website at www.powys.gov.uk/digitalconnectivity.

The council has supported both schemes as part of its Digital Powys project, which aims to help businesses and communities stay connected. It is also part of its transformation programme to deliver aspirations in its ‘Vision 2025’ corporate improvement plan.