A remote community in the heart of Bannau Brycheiniog National Park is rolling out ultrafast fibre broadband thanks to a local effort.

Residents of the Dyffryn Crawnon community near Llangynidr came together to bring the scheme to life and are now rolling out broadband.

The project is supported by funding from the National Lottery Awards for All and the Welsh Government Voucher Scheme.

For several years, the community has managed its own broadband service due to the inability of mainstream providers to offer reliable, affordable connections to many remote homes, farms, and small businesses

As the existing network aged and digital connectivity became more crucial for daily life, the community was disappointed to find itself at the back of the queue for upgrades to Welsh Government-funded fibre links.

Undeterred, residents of the Dyffryn Crawnon community united to seek a solution, drawing inspiration from another remote community in the national park, Crai.

Working with local supplier Broadband 4 Wales Limited, they have developed an affordable, ultrafast broadband network, which is capable of supporting modern digital needs.

Spokesperson, Kathy Mason, from the Dyffryn Broadband Association said: “The Dyffryn Community is delighted that this project will help sustain the resilience and vibrancy of their rural community, providing affordable, reliable and professionally supported broadband services. It will ensure children and young people can access educational and social communities as well as resources.

“It will also improve equity of access to healthcare and community services, particularly for older people needing access to remote care services, emergency alerts and maintaining vital social links.”

“And we’re very pleased it will support the sustainability of rural businesses and farms too. For a rural area, this is essential. We are grateful to the Welsh Government and National Lottery for their support," she added.