Welsh broadband grant: Access Broadband Cymru
Slow internet connection in Wales? Access Broadband Cymru offers eligible properties up to £800 towards equipment and installation. Check your address, understand the application route and explore practical installation support from WiFiSetup.
Important: the premises owner must make the application directly to Welsh Government and accept any offer before instructing an installer or buying equipment. WiFiSetup does not apply for customers or decide eligibility. Already accepted an offer? Discuss the installation with WiFiSetup.
What is the Welsh Government internet grant?
Access Broadband Cymru (ABC) is a Welsh Government scheme for eligible homes, businesses and other premises where a suitable faster connection is not available by other means. You choose the broadband solution and provider that suit the property.
For a grant-supported installation, the sequence matters. An application made after equipment is ordered or work has begun can be rejected as retrospective. We keep the grant decision with Welsh Government and focus on the installation once there is an accepted offer.
Domestic and business premises are not quite the same
Homes: the premises owner applies. Someone applying for a home they do not own must have the owner’s permission. We can discuss the practical installation once an offer is accepted.
Businesses, farms and third-sector premises: the application also confirms VAT status and VAT registration where applicable, plus the required Minimal Financial Assistance declaration. A VAT-registered applicant can claim eligible costs net of VAT only. We will itemise eligible equipment and installation separately, while wider WiFi, resilience or operational upgrades are scoped separately.
Could your property qualify for the Welsh broadband grant?
The scheme requires a Welsh premises with a UPRN that cannot obtain 30 Mbps download from any provider. Previous public funding and ABC funding within the last 48 months also affect eligibility. Welsh Government makes the decision.
Our checker uses address-specific fixed-line availability where available. A slow WiFi speed test alone does not establish eligibility. Available FTTP or a fixed-line estimate of 30 Mbps or more normally points away from funding; incomplete estimates need further checks.
If fibre is listed but cannot actually be ordered, tell us what the provider has said. We can discuss installation options, but cannot override the scheme assessment.
How to apply for Access Broadband Cymru
Create an account and apply through the official portal yourself. For illustrated instructions, read our Access Broadband Cymru application guide.
- Check what is available at the address.
Establish whether another provider can deliver a qualifying connection and consider the needs of the property, business, farm or holiday accommodation.
- Choose a suitable solution.
You decide which connection and provider to use. Options may include satellite, fixed wireless, mobile broadband or another suitable technology.
- Apply directly through the ABC portal.
The premises owner submits the application in their own name. A provider cannot make the application on the applicant’s behalf.
- Wait for and accept the offer.
Read the offer and accept it in the portal before purchasing equipment, booking an installation or instructing a provider.
- Arrange the installation and keep the evidence.
After acceptance, arrange the approved work. Keep itemised invoices and complete the required testing and claim steps within the timescales in the offer.
What WiFiSetup can help with
Plan the physical installation
We can assess practical considerations such as a clear satellite view, a suitable mounting position, cable entry, power, router location and the needs of outbuildings or larger premises.
Install carefully and neatly
We secure the chosen equipment, route cabling thoughtfully and configure the connection and local WiFi so the new service is useful where it is needed.
Provide clear installation records
We can provide an itemised invoice for the agreed work. The applicant remains responsible for their claim, evidence and any Welsh Government portal steps.
Internet connection options for rural Welsh properties
Starlink and satellite internet
A practical route for many remote properties where the sky view is clear and other fixed or mobile options do not meet the need. See our Starlink installation service in Wales.
4G, 5G and fixed wireless
These can work well where the local signal, mast capacity or line of sight supports a reliable service. Site conditions matter, so we do not promise a speed before the correct checks.
Wider property WiFi
Farms, holiday lets and outbuildings can need further cabling, access points or wireless links after the incoming connection is installed. These extras should be considered separately from the grant-supported connection.
Bring the right information to the conversation
Once your offer is accepted, telling us a little about the property lets us discuss a realistic installation route without making assumptions about the grant.
- The full installation address and property type.
- Your accepted offer and its installation deadline.
- The broadband solution you have chosen, if known.
- Photos of possible dish, antenna or cable-route locations where available.
- Any separate buildings or places where WiFi will be required.
North Wales based, Wales-wide by arrangement
WiFiSetup works with rural homes, farms, businesses, holiday accommodation and multi-building properties. The aim is a properly considered incoming connection and a tidy handover—not a one-size-fits-all promise.
For broader rural connectivity options, see Rural Internet Solutions.
Access Broadband Cymru FAQs
Can WiFiSetup apply for the grant for me?
No. The Welsh Government requires the premises owner to make the application themselves. We can discuss the practical installation after you have accepted an offer, but we do not apply or make an eligibility decision for you.
Can I order equipment or book the work before my offer is accepted?
No. The published guidance says the offer must be accepted before you instruct a provider or install equipment. Work or purchases made first can make the application retrospective and ineligible.
How much can the grant cover?
The current guidance states up to £550 for equipment and up to £250 for installation, a maximum of £800 per premises. It does not cover monthly subscription costs or every possible extra.
Can the grant be used for Starlink or another satellite service?
The scheme is technology-neutral. The chosen connection must meet the scheme requirements, and you remain responsible for selecting the solution and provider. Satellite equipment is listed as an example of eligible equipment in the official guidance.
Will WiFiSetup guarantee a particular speed?
No. Actual performance depends on the technology, service, location, obstructions, network conditions and the WiFi environment. We will discuss the site and install the agreed solution carefully, but we do not promise a fixed speed.
Let’s discuss the practical installation
If you have accepted an Access Broadband Cymru offer, tell us about the property, your chosen solution and the work required. We can then discuss a clear, itemised installation route.