Ultrafast broadband will be delivered to thousands of homes in Ceredigion within three years as part of the latest rollout, Openreach has said.

The company has announced plans to bring ultrafast full fibre broadband to an additional 415,000 “harder to reach” homes and businesses in town and villages across Wales.

The update of 140 exchanges across the country will include Borth, Cardigan, Lampeter, Bow Street, New Quay, Aberaeron, Talybont, and Llanon, the company announced.

Ceredigion MP Ben Lake welcomed the announcement: "This is promising news and an important step in bridging the digital divide in Wales.

"I look forward to meeting with Openreach officials next week to understand more about where, when and how these plans will be delivered across Ceredigion."

Connie Dixon, Openreach’s regional director for Wales, said: “Building a new Ultrafast broadband network across Wales is a massive challenge and some parts of the country will inevitably require public funding.

“But our expanded build plan means taxpayer subsidies can be limited to only the hardest to connect homes and businesses.

“And with investments from other network builders, we’d hope to see that shrink further.

“This is a hugely complex, nationwide engineering project – second only to HS2 in terms of investment.

“It will help level-up the UK because the impact of Full Fibre broadband stretches from increased economic prosperity and international competitiveness, to higher employment and environmental benefits.”

Openreach said it will publish finalised location details and timescales on its website as the “detailed surveys and planning are completed and the build progresses.”

Secretary of State for Wales, Simon Hart, said: “First class digital infrastructure is critical to achieving social and economic prosperity for our communities and it is vital that all areas of Wales have the connectivity they need to flourish.

“The UK Government is committed to boosting access to broadband for people and businesses across Wales and projects like the one being carried out by Openreach are a huge step forward in achieving that goal.”

Lee Waters, Welsh Government Deputy Minister for Climate Change, said: “Fast, reliable broadband is more important than ever, so seeing more homes and businesses set to be connected is definitely welcome.

“With the rollout gathering pace we continue to work with Openreach to use public funding to support properties in some of the hardest to reach parts of Wales.”