Better Broadband Infill Project

Overview

The digital landscape across the Swansea Bay City Region has evolved significantly since the launch of the Digital Infrastructure Programme in 2021. Between 2021 and 2024, the region attracted an estimated £107.7 million in public and private sector investment to enhance both mobile and fixed connectivity.

With confirmed plans for Project Gigabit, and commercial rollout continuing at pace, access to high-speed internet is steadily improving. However, many homes and businesses—particularly in rural areas of Carmarthenshire and Pembrokeshire—still experience poor broadband due to the high cost of connecting hard-to-reach premises.

The Better Broadband Infill Project is designed to close these gaps by targeting premises across Pembrokeshire, Carmarthenshire, Swansea, and Neath Port Talbot that:

• Are not included in commercial rollout plans (i.e. “white premises” as defined by the BDUK September 2024 National Rolling Open Market Review)
• Are not covered by existing interventions such as Project Gigabit or voucher schemes
• Currently receive sub-superfast broadband speeds (less than 30 Mbps)

Through a detailed analysis of data from UK Government (via Gov.uk), Ofcom, and various broadband availability tools, we identified 2,363 premises across the region that meet these criteria.

Following a competitive procurement process, the contract was awarded to BT, who will deliver the project in partnership with Openreach. Their proposed full fibre network will connect 1,533 eligible premises, improving connectivity for 65% of the region’s most poorly served homes and businesses. An additional 256 premises will also benefit from improved broadband as part of the project’s extended scope.

Project rollout

The project will be delivered in six phases across the four local authorities, running from May 2025 to 31st March 2027. The first 220 premises are expected to be connected by December 2025.

Looking ahead

While this project represents a significant milestone, we know there’s more to do. Our teams continue to monitor broadband availability at a premise level to identify remaining gaps. This data is actively shaping future interventions, including potential future call-offs under Project Gigabit and the Welsh Government’s “Extending High Speed Broadband in Wales” initiative.

Want to know more?

Please contact Dija Oliver for further information about the Better Broadband Infill Project.