The Deputy Minister for Skills and Technology Ken Skates has visited a mid-Wales internet service provider, which is committed to providing superfast broadband to areas in Wales suffering as a result of poor broadband connectivity.
Xwavia, which has offices in Welshpool and Conwy, provides superfast broadband to residents and businesses in rural and hard-to-reach areas in Wales.
The firm, established in 2009, has recently launched its new network in Conwy as part of its ambitious three-year growth plan. It seeks to build a pan-Wales superfast broadband network, available to communities and businesses alike.
Providing access to hard-to-reach areas, its network harnesses a number of technologies including fibre-optic, wireless and copper, and currently covers Conwy, Gwynedd, Powys, Denbighshire, Deeside, Flintshire, Angelsey and Snowdonia.
Access to this superfast network will support the growth of local businesses, enhancing their competitiveness and growing the Welsh economy.
In partnership with the Welsh Government’s Access Broadband Cymru (ABC) Scheme, families and businesses can now access superfast broadband – typically at speeds between 10 and 100 mega-bits per second (mbps).
The ABC scheme, which provides up to £1,000 of grants towards the installation of a high-speed line, is available to individuals and businesses that meet certain criteria, which includes having a consistent download speed of less than 2 mega-bits per second.
With access to superfast broadband, families can download a whole album in around 30 seconds and a feature length HD movie around 10 minutes, as well as other activities such as streaming TV programmes and playing games.
Superfast speeds can also help small to medium enterprises (SME) to grow and save valuable time by increasing productivity. With faster speeds, businesses can upload large files such as complex graphics and videos, save travel expenses with seamless video conferencing and gain access to the latest and best business software through ‘cloud computing’ services.
During his visit to Xwavia’s Welshpool site, Deputy Minister for Skills and Technology Ken Skates said:
“The Welsh Government is committed to making Wales a truly digital nation and creating the best online conditions for individuals and businesses to operate and thrive.
“We are making excellent progress in delivering Superfast Cymru which aims to deliver fast fibre broadband to 96% of homes and businesses in Wales by 2016 and our Access Broadband Cymru scheme complements that programme by providing support to individuals, businesses and communities to boost their slow broadband connections.
“Demand for faster speeds is increasing and Xwavia is playing an important role in meeting those demands by delivering improved connectivity and helping people to take advantage of the many benefits of superfast broadband.”
Dafydd Thomas, CEO of Xwavia, said: “We are delighted the Deputy Minister visited our Welshpool site and I hope he was impressed by our services and ambitious plans.
“Currently, many residents and business owners do not have access to high speed broadband and this is negatively effecting the Welsh economy. Over the next three years, we will extend our network across Wales to provide much-needed access to superfast broadband.
“Alongside connecting families across the globe, an increasing number of small to medium businesses are now becoming aware that access to superfast broadband technology can help them improve their business processes and attain a competitive advantage.”