Summary

On learning that their villages were outside the National Broadband Plan funding area, the community of Piltown/Fiddown built their own community-owned and future proofed "fibre to the premises" (FTTP) network.  

Using analysis & development and training support from the LEADER programme, they developed a FTTP network installation project plan.  

The community formed a separate social enterprise company, Broadband for Our Community (B4OC), to run the project. B4OC got support from residents, both young and old, and businesses, which facilitated community volunteers to installing the infrastructure necessary to create the network. Physically, this included installing a total of 480 metres of buried ducting and overhead fibre serving the community, and the building of supporting infrastructure. 

Results

Thanks to the project, the 750 homes and businesses in Piltown/Fiddown can now enjoy future-proofed broadband. This area is one of those communities that were unlikely to attract interest from a commercial operator to develop such a network.

The project achieved a model of social and financial innovation and was able to attract co-funding from local businesses. 

B4OC’s exceptional achievement was recognised by Ireland’s 2022 "Digital Town" awards in both the business and overall categories. The project is expected to be replicated in up to five of the potential 25 towns and villages in a similar situation as Piltown/Fiddown in the Kilkenny LEADER Partnership (KLP) area.