subject: Welsh Broadband Support Scheme Takes Off [print this page] New figures out from the UN ahead of 2010 Millennium Development Goals Summit in New York on 19th September show a global disparity in the cost of fixed line broadband.
Crucially poorer countries that would benefit most from having broadband to assist in things like education and telemedicine are the most costly places to get a connection. The Central African Republic for instance came out the most expensive with a fixed broadband connection costing 40 times the average monthly income.
Macao in China came out the cheapest, costing just 0.3% of the average monthly income. When landlines and mobiles are factored in, Niger becomes the most expensive place.
Dr Hamadoun Toure, secretary general of the International Telecommunications Union (ITU) said
"Access to broadband in an affordable manner is our greatest challenge."
Access to cheap communications technology is one of the UN's Millennium Development Goals.
Closer to home studies out this week highlight the fact that most UK homes would prefer to cut back on food than lose their internet connection. A study from Clydesdale and Yorkshire Bank concluded that 93% of us would only give up broadband as a last resort. Broadband was also rated as one of the most important "must haves" above cable / satellite TV and holidays.
All this puts people in Wales in a truly envious position. The new Welsh Assembly Broadband Support Scheme (BSS) launched in July finally enables isolated Welsh communities in not-spots or in locations outside the fixed line broadband network to get online effectively for free.
Homes and businesses can take advantage of a simple grant that covers the set-up costs of using alternative technologies like satellite internet which don't discriminate by location. Products like's Tariam's Tooway Xtra offer a robust 3.6 Mbps connection for the same kind of monthly cost as fixed line broadband like ADSL.
Tariam's Managing Director Andrew Walwyn said
"Tooway is the perfect product for Welsh not-spots, indeed we designed the product with this kind of user in mind. We've had a truly phenomenal number of enquiries from Wales since the launch of the scheme. It's exactly what the area needs.
"We've been aware of the plans for the subsidy for some time and we've geared up our infrastructure to cope with the extra demand. We've now got extra installers in Wales, plenty of stock on hand, and a dedicated Welsh Broadband Support Desk to assist customer in getting online quickly and easily.
"Everything's explained on our website but individual households, home users, communities and 3rd sector organisations are all eligible for the grant. If you're in a location where there is no fixed line broadband or you can't get better than 512 kb over wires, you should qualify for the free hardware and installation".
Andrew was critical of the Parliaments in England and Scotland for not coming forward with similar schemes to the Welsh.
"We heard recently that the new Government in London has pushed out the Universal Broadband Commitment at least another 3 years. Broadband is so essential to leading an effective and rewarding life in today's world, I struggle to understand why politicians can't see what a positive step forward it would be to roll out a national scheme.
"It would energise the country at the very roots when it's most needed after the long dark times of the economic downturn. We would see an immediate lift in efficiency and innovation in education and small business. It would improve the quality of life of millions of people for what is really a comparatively small cost for the rewards it gives".
UK telecommunications watchdog Ofcom has found that nearly half of consumers think that changing their broadband or landline provider is "too much hassle" even if they find a better deal. Ofcom is advising the UK broadband industry that if a customer wants to switch providers, they should take the lead and perform the switch for them.
Ofcom has realised that whilst cheap communications bundles offering customers one deal on broadband, TV, and mobile seem like a good idea, they make the business of changing providers complex and cumbersome.
