Boy, 14, heads broadband campaign

Andrew Powling headed the campaign

A schoolboy is the toast of computer users in Tenby after successfully heading a campaign to get broadband for the town.

Andrew Powling has helped to co-ordinate a drive to get homes and businesses to register for the high-speed internet access which provides a faster way of connecting a computer to the internet.

Earlier this month a Pembrokeshire-wide campaign was launched to get total broadband coverage there.

BT has already upgraded six of its telephone exchanges in Pembrokeshire to allow broadband access but a further 26 are still waiting for the installation.

To gauge demand, the company has target figures which have to be met before it will upgrade the exchanges.

The Broadband 4 Tenby campaign has been told - because it has surpassed its target of 500 people signed up for broadband - the town's telephone exchange will be upgraded.

It was amazing to see people from all over the world contacting me through my website Andrew Powling

Andrew, a student at Tenby's Greenhill School, said achieving the target had been a real community effort.

"I felt very strongly that the town should not miss out on this important new technology, and should not remain behind with regards to the demands for more efficient access to the internet," he explained.

"The benefits of broadband are enormous for both home and business users - not only the speed at which data can be sent and received, but also the ability to use the phone at the same time as being online.

"I am extremely pleased with the result of my campaign, and now look forward to a date when broadband will be available to anyone who wants it in the town.

"It was amazing to see people from all over the world contacting me through my website, with words of encouragement and praise - I am still receiving them even now the campaign has finished."

Reception

Campaigners delivered leaflets to homes and business and the local weekly newspaper published regular updates on how the drive was going.

Work on upgrading the exchange is likely to be completed by the summer.

Andrew has now received a letter of congratulations from the Wales Tourist Board and has been invited to a reception at BT Tower in London.

The Connecting Pembrokeshire Campaign, launched earlier this month, is now hoping enough people will register to give other communities, such as St David's and Saundersfoot, broadband access.