National Broadband comments on latest coronavirus advice from Welsh Government

Following the arrival of the omicron variant to the UK and subsequent announcements from the Welsh Government urging the public to work from home and restrict social interactions, David Hennell, Business Development Director at National Broadband, has highlighted the plight of 52,000 properties in Wales with slow broadband and speeds of less than 10mbps and the huge impact this has on their ability to work from home and stay connected to friends and family over the festive period. 

National Broadband specialises in providing properties with reliable and fast internet connection via bespoke 4G and 5G broadband services. 

David Hennel, Business Development Director commented: “The latest call from the Welsh Government, asking the public to work from home and urging people to limit their social interactions puts those with poor internet connection and slow broadband speeds in a difficult position. Working from home requires individuals to  download large files, interact with office-based systems and edit online documents. Whilst speaking to friends and loved ones via video call provides many with valuable and cherished connections and moments. This means that a fast and reliable internet connection is required just to be able to play a full part in society. However, according to Ofcom there are still 52,000 properties in Wales that can only access internet speeds that run at less than 10Mbps. This is genuinely debilitating and has crippling effects on people’s ability to perform the most basic of tasks online.

Unlike the UK government, which is fixated on fibre solutions, leaving those in more rural locations behind, the Welsh Assembly has realised the significant and nigh on immediate benefit that 4G- and 5G-based connectivity can bring to those with the poorest landline broadband. Its Access Broadband Cymru subsidy scheme offers to cover the entire set-up costs of a better broadband connection for those who are eligible. WIth this latest COVID-related guidance, this is something which all those on the wrong side of the Digital Divide should be taking advantage of.”