A man from Penrhiwtyn is getting behind a new campaign to promote the benefits of superfast broadband and encourage further adoption across Neath Port Talbot.
Jay Powrie, director of a local film production company, is supporting the Welsh Government campaign after seeing first-hand how a superfast internet service transformed his work-life balance.
With conventional broadband speeds not fast enough to support his and partner Mel’s internet use, the couple switched to superfast as soon as it became available to easily stream TV shows, skype relatives in Australia and work from home.
Jay, who founded Dragon Spark Productions Ltd in 2014, specialises in marketing and corporate videos, event filming and independent film production.
The 27-year-old said: “ I always used to stay late in the studio to upload videos, but now I can come home, get dinner started and then upload large high-quality video files in a matter of minutes. Being able to upload films so quickly has really helped me meet tight deadlines, allowing me to move on to the next project even sooner.
“Recently we entered one of our films into a competition and needed to meet the midnight entry deadline. The team worked really hard to complete the film, but to upload it in time we needed a faster internet connection than the one in our office. So I took the film home on a memory stick and managed to upload it with time to spare.
“The film eventually went on to win ‘Best Short Film Made In Wales’, so I was grateful for my fast internet connection at home that day.
“Having faster broadband makes such a difference to our wider lives as well. From being able to do something as simple as our weekly food shop online, to being able to stream shows on Netflix, which our old connection just couldn’t cope with. Before we had superfast broadband videos would buffer all the time, but now the connection is so good we can stream a whole series without any issues.
“My partner Mel used to have trouble video calling her sister who worked in Sydney, with the connection dropping all the time. When we upgraded she was able to call her every week and catch up on her travels around Australia.”
With over 85% of the Superfast Cymru roll-out programme complete in Neath Port Talbot, the Welsh Government Superfast broadband campaign is aiming to promote superfast broadband to residents to demonstrate its benefits and encourage its further use across the county.
While most of the county can now access faster broadband should they wish to do so, a small percentage of premises are not yet able to access it. Assistance is also available for them on the Welsh Government website or by contacting the Welsh Government broadband team.*
Welsh Government Minister for Skills and Science, Julie James, said: “While the majority of homes in Neath Port Talbot can now access superfast broadband should they wish, many people are simply not fully aware of its benefits or how it can be accessed. As Jay’s story shows, faster broadband speeds are enabling families and individuals to carry out their activities with greater speed and efficiency than ever before, and on multiple devices. This includes activities such as downloading large learning resources for children, managing bank accounts, shopping for groceries, paying household bills or using video services such as Skype.
“We want as many people as possible to realise these benefits, and this campaign is aiming to showcase how the technology is impacting thousands of lives in communities across Wales.”
Households and businesses in Neath Port Talbot wanting to take advantage of the benefits of fast fibre broadband should contact an internet service provider (ISP) of their choice to place an order.
*To find out what broadband is available, people are advised to visit www.gov.wales/broadband. This also includes information for those not yet able to receive superfast broadband as support may be available through the Welsh Government's Access Broadband Cymru scheme, which provides grant funding to access superfast broadband through other means.
Representatives from Welsh Government will also be on-hand to chat to local people about Superfast broadband in Aberafan shopping centre on 31st January and at Pontardawe arts centre on 3rd February.
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