TOWNS and villages in Monmouthshire will benefit from the rollout of superfast broadband in the coming months.

According to a report commissioned by Monmouthshire County Council (MCC) and produced by Disconnected Wales and the Community Broadband Network, several parts of the county can look forward to fibre broadband.

These rural areas will join towns and villages that are already up and running, with residents able to place orders now for the fibre broadband. Work on other locations will begin later this year.

Areas currently accepting orders are: Monmouth, St Briavels, Chepstow, Caldicot and Magor, after BT initially rolled out superfast broadband across the country in more urban locations thought to be financially viable.

Further fibre rollouts expected to begin this month will benefit Raglan, Usk and Nantyderry.

Work is expected to begin for Cross Ash and Llantilio Crossenny in June; and in September, work should start on provision for Wolvesnewton, Dingestow, Trellech and Shirenewton.

In Skenfrith, work is expected to begin in December this year.

Work is not predicted to begin in Tintern until March 2016.

The villages of Devauden and Penallt have already installed the faster broadband.

The rollout comes after years of planning, following the launch of the Superfast Cymru programme, a partnership between the Welsh Assembly, UK Government and BT to improve the internet in rural locations.

The aim is to boost access to high speed fibre broadband to 96 per cent of homes and businesses in Wales by June 2016, and all homes by the end of 2020.

Prior to the commencement of Superfast Cymru in 2012, broadband speeds were diverse across the county with major towns receiving reasonable speeds but the remainder of the county struggling with poor

connectivity.

£73,200 could also be taken from ICT reserves at MCC to ensure the potential of Superfast Cymru is maximised for the benefits of businesses and residents across the county.

MCC's cabinet will meet today (18th March) to discuss the funding.

Superfast broadband will enable families to do things like simultaneously download a movie, watch a TV replay service, do homework on the internet and play games online all at the same time. A whole album can be downloaded in less than 30 seconds and a feature length HD movie in less than 10 minutes.

The higher speeds can also help small businesses to grow and save valuable time by being able to make greater use of things like online ordering, doing more by email and accessing more services online.