Government extends fast broadband scheme

It’s been a frantic rush for many households in and around the Welshpool area to bid for grant funding to have fast broadband installed at home, but we can reveal that the date has been extended by six months.

Scores of local households have been rushing to get their applications in to beat the end-of-March deadline in order to transform their internet experience through revolutionary services from companies like Airband UK.

But the Welsh Government, which provides up to £1,000 to cover all installation costs, has confirmed a new deadline of September 30 following huge demand.

“We have been incredibly busy with over 100 local households signing up,” said Red Peel, Managing Director of Airband: “This extension is excellent news for residents and providers in Montgomeryshire and we’d urge people not to delay in applying as there is a limited pot of funding, and take up is accelerating as more people become aware.”

The scheme means that households that receive speeds of less than 2mbps in Guilsfield, Crew Green, Arddleen, Llandrino, Llanfechain, Pontrobert, Pool Quay, Four Crosses, Sarnau, Criggion, Bwlch-y-Cibau and parts of Welshpool and Llanymynech can apply for Airband’s system which provides speeds upwards of 20mbps. Once installed, it even works out cheaper per month than the current phone and internet packages.

Welsh Government Business Minister Edwina Hart said: “I am delighted that we are able to extend this successful scheme until the end of September 2013 so that more communities across Wales can benefit. The extension of the Broadband Support Scheme means we can continue to help those premises which urgently require a broadband solution.”

Can you apply? Take the speed test now at http://www.airband.co/powys/