Towards a Welsh Minimum Digital Living Standard: overview

Building on this, we have been engaged with wider research led by the University of Liverpool and the Good Things Foundation to advance this work.

In June 2025, UK-wide research was published and introduced a measure for MDLS for all UK households. This provides a framework to support and inform policy across sectors.

We welcome this research and recognise it as the basis for our current MDLS policy position. The approach: 

• Bottom up, developed by members of the public.
• Holistic, covering goods and services, and knowledge and skills.
• A starting point, as some households may have additional needs.

There are core devices, services and skills common across household types.

Digital goods and services

• Home broadband or unlimited mobile data with sufficient reliability and speed to support all household members to access the internet at the same.
• Mobile phone and mobile data: one entry-level smart phone per adult and 5GB to 15GB per month mobile data for all household members with their own mobile phone.
• Large screen device: one large screen device (laptop, tablet or PC) per household.
• Television (TV) and viewing: one TV (or TV capable large screen device) per household. One TV licence or entry level TV subscription service per household.

Functional knowledge and skills

• Getting set up (devices and connection): using device functions, connecting to the internet, changing settings and navigating options.
• Doing tasks and activities online: internet searching, using apps and programmes, completing online forms, sending and receiving emails and making online payments.
• Managing and maintaining (devices and connection): monitoring and maintaining device storage and managing and monitoring mobile data.

Critical knowledge and skills

• Managing security: using secure passwords, evaluating connection security and making safe payments.
• Evaluating information seen online: identifying and avoiding scams, assessing information quality and credibility and customising, blocking and reporting accounts and content.
• Evaluating what to share online: protecting personal information, assessing online identities and friend requests and considering digital footprint.
• Thinking about digital wellbeing: Managing time spent online, managing social expectations and pressures and practicing empathy online.

Differences between household types

The research showed needs varied by household type. Examples include:

• Households with children have the most needs overall, both for basic digital skills, and for devices and connectivity (which are also shaped by household size).
• Pension age groups felt smartphones were essential for out and about; working age groups saw it as the go to device in and out of the home.
• Pension age groups added an option of a landline in areas with poor mobile coverage, particularly with a risk of power cuts. Although there was noted concern and confusion emerged about the switchover of phone lines to digital.
• Ability to change settings (e.g. font size) was most salient in pension age groups but also identified as important for all groups.
• Ability to use parental controls was a need in households with children.
• Access to online gaming was important for children’s social inclusion and friendships. Extra kit may not be needed but it can put more demand on devices and connection and requires basic digital skills like evaluating friend requests.
• Young people identified four stages of digital use over time which shape their needs for basic digital skills: accessing devices; using online multiplayer games; getting a first mobile phone; and later use as children go through school, do homework online, socialise online, and travel independently.

The research found the ability for households to meet the MDLS varies based on income, local infrastructure, and access to support. Other factors include disability, health conditions and housing.

Over 4 in 10 (45%) of UK households with children were below the MDLS. This was linked to child poverty factors such as low income, lone parent status, and living in deprived areas.

In October 2025, Welsh Government commissioned Miller Research UK to:

• assess the impact of meeting MDLS on health inequalities
• undertake a baseline survey of people aged 16 and above in Wales who are below the MDLS

Findings will be published on our website.

Our pilots being delivered during 2025 and 2026 aim to define how we can support households to meet the MDLS. 

Areas of focus:

• Connectivity: sufficient and reliable internet access (broadband and/or data SIM).
• Device/s: smartphone (touchscreen, internet access and ability to run applications), laptop (e.g. Chromebook) and/or tablet (e.g. iPad).
• Digital Skills for all household members:
  • Connect your device to the internet (home broadband and/or mobile data)
  • Download and use apps (e.g. iPlayer, Whatsapp, NHS Wales app, Car parking)
  • Change the settings on your device(s)
  • Use a search engine (e.g. Google)
  • Send and receive an email(s)
  • Manage banking activity online
  • Create a secure password
  • Evaluate quality of information (e.g. identifying mis/disinformation)
  • Manage device data usage (e.g. Smartphone or tablet device)
  • Identify risks (e.g. scams, unsafe links or inappropriate offensive content etc
  • Understand your digital footprint (e.g. evaluating what details are shared online)
  • Able to access public services e.g. booking doctor appointments or finding local authority information