Online and digital support for businesses
Having a fully connected and online business is now a vitally important tool in connecting with and accessing customers.
A range of support measures are now available to support businesses, not only with an improved broadband connection but how this connection can be better utilised to build your business base.
Improving the quality of your broadband service
If you are unable to access an adequate broadband service, support may be available to provide a faster, more reliable connection.
Access Broadband Cymru (Welsh Government) (opens new window)
As part of the superfast broadband roll out, Access Broadband Cymru provides grants to fund (or part-fund) the installation costs of new broadband connections for homes and businesses in Wales. New connections through this scheme must deliver a step change in speed - with at least double your current download speeds, for example, a current connection of 10Mbps must improve to at least 20Mbps.
The amount of funding you can receive depends on the speed of the new connection. You can receive £400 for 10Mbps and above, or £800 for 30Mbps and above.
Rural Gigabit Broadband Voucher Scheme (opens new window)
The UK government's Gigabit Broadband Voucher Scheme is part of its vision for a full fibre Britain. Gigabit vouchers can be used by small businesses and the local communities surrounding them to contribute to the installation cost of a gigabit-capable broadband connection. Businesses and residents in Wales are eligible for additional funding from the Welsh Government towards these costs.
Through the scheme businesses can currently claim up to £3,500 against the cost of a gigabit capable connection either individually or as part of a group project. Residents can claim a voucher worth £1,500 as part of a group project with a business.
For group projects, the Welsh Government will pay up to an additional £3,500 per small to medium-sized business (SME) and an additional £1,500 per residential property. This means that for group projects in Wales up to £7,000 is available per business and up to £3,000 is available per residential property.
Openreach's Fibre First programme (opens new window)
Thousands of Swansea homes and businesses are to benefit from a multi-million pound investment by Openreach. New future-proof technology will provide reliability for home and business users ensuring connectivity for decades to come.
The UK's largest phone and broadband network is making new, more reliable, and more resilient Fibre-to-the-Premises (FTTP) technology available to tens of thousands of homes and businesses across the city. The first areas to benefit will be those with SA1, SA2 and SA5 postcodes.
As well as adding more reliability and resilience to the network, meaning the connection is less likely to drop out, FTTP brings speeds of up to one gigabit per second (1Gbps), about 24 times faster than the current UK average of 46Mbps.
Fibre technology provides greater capacity for multiple devices, the use of smart appliances and uninterrupted video calls. The fibre connection will future-proof the homes and businesses of Swansea for decades to come and ensure the city remains competitive on the national and world stage.