Who does what in Wales
The Welsh Government's support page (updated 7 October 2026) says digital connectivity and telecoms policy is the UK Government's responsibility. The UK Government delivers Project Gigabit in Wales as elsewhere, and expects 99% of premises to have access to gigabit-capable broadband by 2032. 'Gigabit-capable' means a connection that can deliver downloads of at least 1Gbps.
The Welsh Government runs its own grant, Access Broadband Cymru, and is separately paying suppliers to build to poorly served premises through a £70m project; both are covered below. Its support page groups help into Project Gigabit, council broadband engagement officers, community solutions, and funding for individual properties (the Universal Service Obligation and Access Broadband Cymru).
Some councils in Wales have broadband engagement officers who, the Welsh Government says, can help you understand the broadband technologies and options available to you. Its support page doesn't say which councils have one, so ask yours directly.
Start by checking what your address can get today
Every scheme starts with what your address can get already. The Welsh Government's advice is to begin with Ofcom's broadband coverage checker; thinkbroadband also has a checker and coverage maps. Then look at what's planned:
- The GOV.UK gigabit availability checker covers England and Wales (Scotland and Northern Ireland have their own tools; see our guide to broadband plans in Scotland and Northern Ireland) and shows whether gigabit broadband is available or planned at an address. At its 6 October 2026 update it used data from the May 2026 Open Market Review (where network builders tell the government what they've built or plan). The next update is due in February 2027, then every four months. GOV.UK says it can't guarantee complete accuracy.
- Openreach's fibre checker covers Openreach's own network only, so a 'no' there doesn't rule out another network.
- Local networks' own checkers. Independent networks, often called altnets, run their own; Voneus's, for example, shows whether it's available or 'on our way'.
Run our broadband speed test at a few times of day too, so you know your real speeds before asking about a grant or a USO request.
Fibre might already be there, and nobody told you
The Welsh Government warns that your broadband won't change unless you order an upgrade. Your provider might not tell you full fibre (FTTP, fibre to the premises) has arrived, and a comparison site can suggest it isn't available simply because FTTP suppliers aren't listed, so contact several providers.
That applies to us too: you can compare deals at your postcode using our partner's live data, but use it alongside the checkers above. Our broadband deals by area pages cover all 22 Welsh local authority areas, such as Powys, Gwynedd and Pembrokeshire, and our guide to checking whether full fibre is available or planned covers the tools in more depth.
Project Gigabit in Wales: the Openreach contracts
Project Gigabit, run by Building Digital UK (BDUK), pays network builders to reach premises that aren't in any company's commercial plans; our guide to how Project Gigabit works covers the UK-wide picture and contract values. Its contracted build in Wales is being done by Openreach under two 'call-off' contracts under a framework aimed mainly at rural premises:
- Call-off 2: Devon, Mid Wales and South East Wales, signed June 2024.
- Call-off 3: North Herefordshire, North Wales, Shropshire and South West Wales, signed December 2024.
Both include English counties. For Wales itself, BDUK's September 2026 progress update says around 60,000 Welsh premises are expected to benefit through its Openreach contracts, and more than 7,000 had been reached. Gigabit vouchers have also funded builds by other suppliers (see below), so Openreach isn't the only publicly funded builder.
Where Wales stands overall
The same BDUK update, using Ofcom data, put gigabit-capable coverage in Wales at 83%, or 1.31 million premises. Ofcom's Spring 2026 figures (January 2026 data, as reported by ISPreview) count homes rather than all premises: gigabit-capable broadband reached 85% of Welsh homes and full fibre 82%. BDUK also credits voucher-funded projects with over 28,000 Welsh gigabit-capable connections, and the earlier Superfast Broadband Programme with gigabit-capable coverage for around 100,000 premises.
If the checker says you're in the plan
- It isn't a date. GOV.UK says the premises in a contract are subject to change, for example if another provider has already connected them or because of extraordinary engineering difficulties.
- Nothing happens automatically. Once the network is built, you have to request a connection from a broadband provider. Openreach sells to providers, not households (see what Openreach is and does), so you order from a provider on its network.
- Think about contract lengths. If a build looks close, a rolling monthly contract can bridge the gap better than a long minimum term.
If you're not in it
GOV.UK gives the usual reasons a premises sits outside a Project Gigabit build: gigabit-capable infrastructure is already there, it's in another contract or subsidy scheme, a supplier declared commercial plans for it in the Open Market Review, or it was left out on cost or difficulty (government is considering policy for these 'Very Hard to Reach' premises). Our Project Gigabit guide explains each in more depth, including how addresses get added to and dropped from contracts.
For a Welsh address the practical reading is this. If the first reason applies, go back to step 1: fibre may be orderable now. If a supplier has declared plans, ask it for a timetable in writing. If you're out of scope on cost or difficulty and can't get 30Mbps, the Welsh Government's own schemes, its £70m network-build project and the Access Broadband Cymru grant, are aimed at homes in your position, so read on.
The Welsh Government's £70m Extending High Speed Broadband project
Alongside its grant, the Welsh Government is paying for network builds through the Extending High Speed Broadband (EHSB) project. Its scheme page says the £70 million goes to telecoms providers to cover the cost gap of reaching premises with speeds under 30Mbps where the market has said it has no intention to provide fast, reliable broadband within the next three years. Whatever a supplier builds must deliver more than 30Mbps, and the scheme runs from August 2025 to August 2033.
A June 2025 Welsh Government statement said the money was clawed back from the original Superfast Cymru project and that premises covered by other interventions, including Project Gigabit, were being removed from scope. In March 2026 ISPreview reported that suppliers had been appointed to a framework covering around 29,000 premises, in two lots:
- Lot 1 (£60m, larger projects of over 1,000 premises): Openreach, Fibrus and Airband.
- Lot 2 (£10m, projects of fewer than 1,000 premises): Airband, Fibrus and Wifinity, plus BB4W (Broadband 4 Wales), added in August 2026 after the Welsh Government said an administrative error had left it off the list.
ISPreview put the framework's estimated term at 15 April 2026 to 14 April 2028, with a possible extension to April 2029. Individual contracts, called 'call-offs', come later. ISPreview's 21 August 2026 report said the technology, speeds, premises per contract and places covered had yet to be set out, and we found no published call-off when we checked in October 2026.
What that means in practice:
- There's no address list to check yet. Until contracts are announced, nobody can say whether your home is included, so decide on what you can check today.
- It could matter for a USO request. BT's rules exclude you if a public scheme will reach you within 12 months, so if you're refused on those grounds, ask BT which scheme it means and when it's due.
- Ask the suppliers. If Fibrus, Airband (now owned by Voneus) or Openreach is active near you, ask whether your address is in any planned publicly funded build, and get the answer in writing.
Access Broadband Cymru: the Welsh Government grant
Access Broadband Cymru (ABC) is the Welsh Government's grant towards the cost of installing broadband at homes and businesses in Wales that can't get a connection by other means. It's technology-neutral: any solution can qualify, as long as average download speeds after installation reach at least 30Mbps.
Is it open?
As of 14 October 2026, yes. The guidance collection on gov.wales (last updated 12 June 2026) is live with no closure notice. The scheme was relaunched in 2025 after a pause, and on 27 March 2026 the Welsh Government said 1,000 properties had better connectivity through the relaunched scheme.
But the annual budget is £1,000,000, the guidance doesn't say how much is left, and the Welsh Government can close or change the scheme at any time. If you qualify, don't sit on it.
How much it pays
Part | Maximum grant |
|---|---|
Equipment | £550 |
Installation | £250 |
Total per premises | £800 |
The grant is paid in arrears: you pay the provider and claim it back, or the Welsh Government pays a provider that's set up on its systems. VAT-registered businesses can claim only the net amount. For businesses, the grant counts as Minimal Financial Assistance under the Subsidy Control Act 2022, and you'll need to confirm you haven't received more than £315,000 of such support in the current and previous two financial years.
Who can apply
The premises must:
- be in Wales;
- be unable to get at least 30Mbps download from any provider;
- not have been funded by any other UK public sector broadband scheme before;
- not have had ABC funding in the past 48 months, including under the paused version of the scheme; and
- have a Unique Property Reference Number (UPRN), the official reference for the address (look it up at findmyaddress.co.uk).
Applications are made by the owner of the premises; if you're applying for a property you don't own, such as one you rent, you must get the owner's permission before you apply. Providers can't apply on your behalf, there's one application per premises, and the equipment has to stay there. Renting? See broadband for renters.
What it covers, and what it doesn't
Covered | Not covered |
|---|---|
Satellite dish and receiver | Internal boosters and mesh systems, including mesh routers |
Wireless or mobile receiver | TV and phone equipment |
Router | Computers and printers |
Fibre or copper cable, poles and brackets | Installation tools |
Engineer or installer fees, site surveys | Monthly subscription fees and cancellation fees |
The guidance says these lists are examples, not a complete list. If you're not sure whether something counts, email broadband@gov.wales before the installation, because ineligible items aren't funded whatever their value.
Any fee for leaving your current contract early is yours, so check your contract end date first.
You choose the solution, and you own the risk
The Welsh Government doesn't advise on providers. You pick the provider and technology, and problems after you've claimed are between you and the provider, so get answers in writing first:
- What technology will you use, and what average download speed do you expect at my address?
- Can you give me an itemised quote that separates equipment from installation?
- Can you invoice the Welsh Government directly, or will I pay and reclaim?
- What's the minimum term and monthly price, and is there a data limit or fair use policy?
- What happens if the site survey shows the installation won't work?
How to apply for Access Broadband Cymru, step by step
Retrospective applications are rejected, and if you instruct a provider or install equipment before accepting your offer, the offer is withdrawn.
- Check you're eligible. Confirm on Ofcom's coverage checker that you can't already get 30Mbps, and look up your UPRN.
- Talk to providers, but don't order. Gather quotes and answers to the questions above.
- Apply through the ABC Application Portal. Register with your contact details, including an email address, give the full postal address with postcode, and track the application in the portal.
- Wait for the assessment. Applications are assessed within 20 working days, though the Welsh Government says it may extend this. If you're turned down, the email explains how to challenge the decision.
- Read the offer letter, then accept in the portal within 28 calendar days.
- Now instruct your provider. Installation and your claim must both happen within 3 months of accepting, or the offer is withdrawn automatically and you have to reapply. If the Welsh Government is to pay your provider directly, check first that the provider is set up on its systems, or it won't be paid.
- Claim within 28 days of installation. Late claims aren't paid, with no exceptions. Include speed test results from a speed checker (Ookla Speedtest is one the guidance names), the amount claimed, and itemised invoices separating equipment and installation; invoices that aren't itemised are rejected. The scheme funds installations that reach at least 30Mbps download, so test a few times once everything is working.
- Return the reimbursement form if you paid the provider yourself. It's sent when your claim arrives, and the claim isn't paid until it's returned.
- Get paid. Claims are assessed within 15 working days and paid in weekly runs, within 5 working days once authorised.
Ask providers how soon they can install before you accept. Questions go to broadband@gov.wales; allow at least 5 working days for a reply.
Gigabit vouchers: closed to new projects in Wales too
Under the UK Gigabit Broadband Voucher Scheme (GBVS), suppliers pooled vouchers worth up to £4,500 per premises to build to groups of at least two eligible homes or businesses. GOV.UK's scheme page (updated 2 September 2026) says the scheme closed to new project submissions on 31 August 2026. Existing projects continue until the planned closure on 31 March 2028 (or an earlier agreed end date), with vouchers issued before March 2027 unless another date is agreed.
Only premises already in existing projects can now be eligible, so don't assume your home can be added to one. If a project is planned or underway near you, GOV.UK says to contact the supplier with questions; existing projects show up on the gigabit availability checker. The Welsh Government's support page (7 October 2026) lists no separate Welsh top-up to these vouchers.
Under 10Mbps: the Universal Service Obligation
If you can't get a download speed of 10Mbps, the Welsh Government points you to the broadband Universal Service Obligation (USO): a legal right to request a decent, affordable connection, delivered by BT. Use BT's online eligibility checker or call 0800 783 0223.
'Decent' means at least 10Mbps download and 1Mbps upload. 'Affordable' means no more than £59.60 a month, which BT says refers to your monthly broadband charges, not any build costs. BT says you can request a USO connection only if you have no decent, affordable connection now, won't get one through a public scheme within 12 months, and can't get a connection through a 4G hub.
Read the cost rules before you get your hopes up. The USO covers up to £3,400 (excluding VAT) of the build. BT says it will tell you whether its estimate is under that threshold, which may take 30 days; if it's higher, it can do a full survey and give a final quote, which may take 60 days, and you pay the excess above £3,400 if you want BT to go ahead. BT shares the excess between eligible premises in the build area where it comes to under £5,000 per premises; where it's much higher, BT says you'd need to raise the entire excess yourself, or share it by crowdfunding. Once you've paid you have 30 days to change your mind, after which the payment is non-refundable except under BT's USO terms. BT aims to complete builds within 12 months, but says some take up to 24 months, or longer in exceptional cases.
BT only has to build where no qualifying alternative exists, and Ofcom confirmed to ISPreview in July 2026 that Starlink satellite broadband meets the USO criteria; some applicants told ISPreview they'd been turned down for that reason. Where Starlink isn't a qualifying alternative, for example with no clear view of the sky, or where its pricing or a local congestion charge takes it above the affordability threshold, ISPreview says you can still ask BT for a connection on USO terms.
This matters in Wales: Ofcom's data to January 2026, as reported by ISPreview, counted around 6,000 Welsh premises unable to get USO-standard broadband from a fixed line or fixed wireless. Two more points:
- The 12-month rule interacts with Project Gigabit. If a publicly funded build, from Project Gigabit or the Welsh Government's own project, is due to reach you within 12 months, BT's rules say you won't qualify. The GOV.UK checker shows whether gigabit is planned, not when, so if you're refused, ask BT what it found.
- ABC and the USO use different thresholds. ABC is for premises that can't get 30Mbps; the USO is for those under 10Mbps. They're alternatives, not add-ons: once an ABC-funded connection gives you 30Mbps or more, you have a decent connection and the USO no longer applies. Under 10Mbps, weigh what each would cost you: ABC caps at £800, while a USO build may leave you paying an excess.
Our guide to the broadband USO explains what you might be offered.
Getting together with neighbours
The Welsh Government suggests neighbours who need faster broadband come together for a community solution, starting by talking to them to gauge demand.
Openreach's Fibre Community Partnership builds full fibre for communities outside its existing plans, funded by vouchers, the community, or both. With vouchers closed to new projects, ask Openreach how a new scheme would be funded now. Where community money is involved, Openreach says:
- the community needs a legal entity to sign the contract; an existing body such as a residents' association can be used;
- it gives an early cost estimate, you're not committed until you agree to go ahead, and you only cover costs above its commercial model;
- you pay 50% when you sign the contract and the rest when the build is finished;
- the build takes 12 to 18 months on average once funding is confirmed and contracts are signed, so organising and fundraising come on top.
In an undated Welsh Government case study, Michaelston-y-Fedw villagers formed a Community Interest Company and raised the money to build their own full fibre network, using contractors for some of the work alongside volunteers; almost 200 premises were connected at the time of writing, with connections funded through the Welsh Government's voucher schemes. Our guide to your options when full fibre isn't in your street covers community builds in more detail.
Wireless, satellite and local networks in Wales
For many remote homes the realistic answer isn't a fibre line. The Welsh Government lists three alternatives:
- Satellite. Low Earth orbit (LEO) services can provide over 100Mbps, need an unobstructed view of the sky, and unlimited data packages are available. See our guide to satellite broadband in the UK.
- 4G or 5G mobile broadband through a router or dongle. Speeds depend on signal, distance from the mast and local demand; an external antenna can help. See whether 4G or 5G can replace a fixed line.
- Fixed wireless, which needs line of sight from a mast to a receiver on your home; see fixed wireless broadband.
In March 2026 ISPreview reported 50 publicly funded Extended Area Service (EAS) mast upgrades live in Wales, opening masts built for the emergency services network to all mobile operators. See our Shared Rural Network guide.
Access Broadband Cymru can help with installing any of these, provided the result reaches 30Mbps.
Local networks with a Welsh footprint
- Ogi builds and runs its own full fibre network. ISPreview reported in May 2026 that it covered over 118,000 premises, mainly in South Wales plus a small part of England. It says home customers in south Wales outside its networked communities may be offered an alternative service. See what happens at an Ogi installation.
- Voneus serves rural homes and businesses across parts of Pembrokeshire, Carmarthenshire, Powys and Monmouthshire.
- Airband, bought out of administration by Voneus in August 2026 (the brand continues), launched its first gigabit-capable fixed wireless mast in Wales at Pontypridd in June 2026.
Coverage within counties is patchy, so use each network's postcode checker. Our broadband providers hub lists the networks we cover.
Which route fits your address
Your situation | Where to look |
|---|---|
Fibre or another fast service is already available | Order it. Compare deals at your postcode and check networks' own sites. |
The GOV.UK checker shows gigabit planned | Find out who is building, avoid long stopgap contracts, and order once it's built. |
Under 30Mbps and nothing fast is available | Access Broadband Cymru (up to £800), while it's open. |
Under 10Mbps and no public scheme due within 12 months | A USO request to BT, or ABC: they're alternatives. BT can refuse if a 4G hub or Starlink can serve you, and you pay any build cost above £3,400. |
Under 30Mbps and wondering about the Welsh Government's £70m project | No list of places had been published when we checked; ask local suppliers, and don't wait on it in place of the routes above. |
Several neighbours in the same position | A community solution, such as an Openreach Fibre Community Partnership. |
Not sure what's possible locally | Ask your council whether it has a broadband engagement officer. |
Whatever the route, screenshot and date checker results and keep copies of quotes and emails.
Broadband support in Wales FAQs
Is Access Broadband Cymru still open?
Yes, as of 14 October 2026. The guidance collection on gov.wales (last updated 12 June 2026) is live with no closure notice. But the scheme has a £1m annual budget, the guidance doesn't say how much is left, and the Welsh Government can close or change it at any time, so check gov.wales before you apply.
How much is the Access Broadband Cymru grant?
Up to £800 per premises: up to £550 towards equipment and up to £250 towards installation. It's paid in arrears, to you or directly to a provider set up on Welsh Government systems. It doesn't cover monthly subscription fees, cancellation fees or mesh Wi-Fi systems.
Can I get an Access Broadband Cymru grant for satellite or 4G broadband?
Yes, the scheme is technology-neutral. Satellite dishes and receivers, wireless or mobile receivers and routers are on its list of eligible equipment, provided average download speeds after installation reach at least 30Mbps. You choose the provider and take responsibility for the service.
Can I order my broadband before my ABC grant is approved?
No. The guidance says retrospective applications are rejected, and if you instruct a provider or install equipment before accepting your offer, the offer is withdrawn. Apply, wait for the assessment (normally within 20 working days), accept within 28 days, and only then book the installation.
How do I check if my address in Wales is in Project Gigabit?
Use the GOV.UK gigabit availability checker, which covers England and Wales and shows whether gigabit broadband is available or planned. Its October 2026 data come from the May 2026 Open Market Review, with the next update due in February 2027. Being in a plan isn't a date, and contracted premises can change.
What is the Welsh Government's £70m Extending High Speed Broadband project?
It's a Welsh Government scheme paying telecoms suppliers to build to premises under 30Mbps that the market doesn't plan to reach within three years; whatever is built must deliver more than 30Mbps. ISPreview reported suppliers including Openreach, Fibrus, Airband and Wifinity joined its framework in March 2026 for around 29,000 premises, but where they will build hadn't been published when we checked in October 2026. The money goes to suppliers rather than households, so there's nothing for you to apply for.
Can I still get a gigabit broadband voucher in Wales?
Not for a new project. The UK Gigabit Broadband Voucher Scheme closed to new project submissions on 31 August 2026, and only premises already in existing projects can now be eligible. Those projects run until 31 March 2028 at the latest. If one is planned or underway near you, contact its supplier with questions, but don't assume your home can be added.
What if my broadband in Wales is under 10Mbps?
You may be able to use the Universal Service Obligation, a legal right to request at least 10Mbps download and 1Mbps upload, delivered by BT (0800 783 0223). BT only builds where no qualifying alternative exists, such as a public scheme due within 12 months, a 4G hub or, as Ofcom confirmed to ISPreview in July 2026, a satellite service such as Starlink where it meets the USO criteria. The USO covers up to £3,400 (excluding VAT) of the build and you pay any excess, so compare that with Access Broadband Cymru, which is an alternative.
