Villagers dig deep to speed up slow internet connection

VILLAGERS frustrated with their poor internet connection took matters into their own hands by digging miles of trenches to install their own cables.

Residents in Michaelston-y-fedw, south Wales, which has a population of 300, clubbed together after being unable to download films, stream music or connect to online banking.

Pensioners, farmers, teachers and even the pub landlords put in thousands of hours of volunteering to dig miles of trenches – and now have superfast broadband.

Villagers stumped up £150,000 of their own money to secure their superfast connection speed and the rest of the £250,000 project was funded with the help of grants from the European Union and the Welsh Government Access Broadband Cymru scheme.

Ben Longman, landlord of the Cefn Mably Arms, said the idea was sparked in the local pub when villagers started “moaning” about their Wi-fi connections. “I had just paid for high speed broadband and realised it would not work,” he added.

One of the organisers, Carina Dunk, 61, said: “It used to take a few days to download a film, now it takes less than a minute.

“Sometimes we have to take a step back and pinch ourselves at what we have done. Anyone can do it, it is not rocket science.” A year after the project began most of the 300 villagers are now hooked up to a 1,000mps broadband connection.

Richard Raybould, 59, is still waiting for his house to be connected on the edge of the village, but has been impressed by the community spirit .

He said: “It is amazing what skills people in the community have. There are IT experts and farmers who dig trenches. I have met at least 30 people who I had never spoken to before.”