Lightning quick broadband arrives!

A local community has been “transformed” after a new wireless broadband network was switched on, allowing fast and reliable internet access to homes and businesses for the first time.

After years of having either no broadband or intermittent and slow connections, broadband provider eXwavia has connected nearly 80 properties in Cefn Coch and Adfa, near Welshpool to a new wireless broadband network.

It means they can now access mywelshpool in lightning quick time and the project will be rolled out throughout rural Wales by eXwavia which wants to make Montgomeryshire the fastest rural broadband region in the UK.

“This has transformed our business and the whole community overnight,” said Pete Jones of the Red Ridge Centre at Cefn Coch. “In the few weeks since the broadband network was switched on we’ve moved forward dramatically.

“Accessing our 20Mbps connection our businesses processes, work on our company website, booking systems and how we do things day-to-day have just changed and revolutionised what we do – for the better!”

Mr Jones spearheaded a campaign to get broadband to the community where even mobile phone signals are difficult. Many of those connected received support through the Welsh Government’s Broadband Support Scheme which provides funding to homes and businesses that cannot get broadband, or have speeds under 2Mbps.

 

The broadband network has been made possible through a link from the high speed FibreSpeed fibre-optic network in North Wales via a microwave link to Long Mountain. This is connected to masts at Cefn Coch and Adfa which allow users to receive fast broadband wirelessly without the need for cables or fibre-optics.

The new link means rural communities throughout north Powys now have the potential to get fast and reliable broadband which is currently unavailable through conventional telephone lines.

Annette Burgess, Managing Director of Welshpool-based eXwavia said: “The new broadband network demonstrates how almost any rural community can get fast and reliable broadband where there is demand. We’ve worked closely with Pete Jones who has acted as a passionate broadband champion within the community and spearheaded a local campaign.

“We’re now working with other communities in north Powys to bring more fast and reliable broadband into homes and businesses. We want to make Montgomeryshire the fastest and most reliable rural location for broadband in the UK.”

eXwavia is developing a range of fast and reliable broadband networks throughout Mid and North Wales. It is already well established on Anglesey where it aims to have 95 per cent coverage, providing a choice of speeds between 4Mbps and 60Mbps.