DIGITAL
CONNECTIVITY
Are you
well connected?
Investment in gigabit broadband for Cornwall would deliver £615 million and an additional £111 million per year into the Cornish economy, according to an independent study commissioned by Wildanet, the Cornwallbased Alternative Network provider (Altnet). The report, Connecting Cornwall Demonstrating the Value of Improved Connectivity, was launched at an event in Parliament attended by Cornish and south west MPs and again highlighted during a key stakeholder event hosted by Wildanet at the Royal Cornwall Show, with keynote speaker Linda Taylor, Leader of Cornwall Council. Researched and produced by the policy institute, Curia, the report plots progress on the gigabit roll out and for the first time quantifies the impact of extending national
34 | BUSINESS CORNWALL
gigabit capable broadband across hard-toreach areas in Cornwall. It found the case for gigabit capable broadband is compelling and has been accelerated by the consequences of the Covid pandemic, with home working, video communications, remote services and direct retail operations creating an unprecedented demand. Broadband coverage in the south west has historically lagged behind national rollout schemes. With gigabit coverage currently at 46%, it is accepted that the nature of Cornwall’s geography will mean extending coverage will require further public investment. In 2020, the Government committed £5 billion to Project Gigabit, which uses public
procurement alongside the gigabit voucher scheme to roll out broadband to hard-toreach areas across the UK. Culture Secretary, Nadine Dorries, announced in May the scheme was moving forward, with bids invited for £36 million worth of contracts to bring fast connections to 19,000 homes and businesses in hard-to-reach areas of Cornwall, and followed this up with a visit to the Royal Cornwall Show, in June, to further champion the scheme. Liskeard-based Wildanet is investing £50 million rolling out fibre broadband to communities across Cornwall with work already completed in Liskeard and Dobwalls, currently under way in Torpoint, Callington and Launceston and shortly starting in Wadebridge, Bude and Pensilva.
