The Welsh government have released a statement drawing attention to the story of a deaf and disabled man from Powys who wasn’t able to secure access to broadband or mobile internet phone signal in his home who has now received support to connect to the internet through a Welsh Government scheme.
Mark lives in a very rural area and lack of access to the internet was causing him significant problems in his day to day life. For example, the poor signal meant that he wasn’t able to use British Sign Language effectively with interpreters during online fideo calls.
He received support to satellite broadband through Access Broadband Cymru, a grants scheme which is run by the Welsh Government. The scheme provides funding to support the work of installing broad band provision methods to homes and businesses in Wales if they cannot secure a fast internet connection over 30Mbps through any other means.
In a statement, Mark said:
“I have gone from no internet to achieving download speeds of over 350Mbps.
I am now able to communicate with work and friends by text, email and video call using British Sign Language. The faster connection means British Sign Language is much more real time and fluid. I can now also stream programmes with closed captions on my devices.
Without the grant I would not have broadband, it gave me the confidence to take the plunge with a new connection. The higher monthly cost for satellite broadband can be an issue, but for me the reliability is so important for maintaining contact and communication.”
Cabinet Secretary for Economy, Energy and Planning, Rebecca Evans, said:
“The Access Broadband Cymru scheme is so vital for communities across Wales.
Fast, reliable broadband connectivity is no longer a luxury – it’s essential for work, communication, and accessing services. I’m delighted that with Welsh Government support Mark has been able to overcome the digital barriers he faced and achieve the connectivity he needs to fully participate in modern life.
This is exactly what the scheme was designed to achieve – ensuring no one in Wales is left behind in our digital society.”
You can find out more about this scheme and other similar schemes, the criteria you need to meet to qualify, and how to make applications, by following this link to the Welsh Government’s ‘Broadband in Wales’ page which will lead you to the advice most relevant to you.
