DIGITAL CONNECTIVITY

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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 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.

THE CASE FOR GIGABIT - key findings from the Connecting Cornwall report include:

• While Cornwall enjoyed early success through the Superfast Broadband Programme it has now fallen behind, with just 46% of the county having gigabit capable coverage - compared to a UK average of 66%.

• 62,000 people in the county have never used the internet

• Digital connectivity would generate an economic impact amounting to £615 million GVA, with £111 million safeguarded year on year until 2030 for Cornwall’s economy

• Gigabit capable broadband would also deliver savings of more than £220 per year to individual households at a time when home budgets are being hit by the cost-of-living crisis

Internet connectivity in Cornwall has been climbing the agenda with recent Government announcements on plans which would level up Cornwall’s connectivity with other parts of the UK and the release of new independent research showing the considerable social and economic benefits at stake.

Wildanet CEO, Helen Wylde, discussed the importance of improved connectivity with Ms Dorries when the Digital Secretary spent time at the Wildanet stand during her Royal Cornwall visit.

Helen says: “It was good to meet the Digital Secretary and we welcome the recent Government updates on next steps in Cornwall for targeted investment through its Project Gigabit scheme.

“As our research shows, the impact of the pandemic has brought into sharp focus the need to improve connectivity across the country, especially in areas outside the commercial build of large broadband providers. Altnets, such as Wildanet, have been stepping up to provide these more complex connections to level up rural communities. “In Cornwall, there are areas which have good digital connectivity but there are also large parts of the county, particularly in rural areas, which do not. That’s simply not acceptable; it is a barrier to social inclusion and business growth; and it is the reason Wildanet was formed and why our ethos is that no-one should be forgotten or left behind by the digital revolution because of where they live or the standard of service they receive.

“I have witnessed first-hand the positive impact reliable local connections can have on individual residents, businesses, and the local economy. I am delighted we were able to commission research which provides a clear quantitative analysis of this impact, which I hope will reenergise efforts to increase connectivity, and provide new industries with the confidence to invest in Cornwall and the south west.”

Read more about these findings and view the report via the QR code below.

At Wildanet, we’re all about supporting local businesses. If you’re looking to upgrade your business broadband, contact our local team today on 0800 0699906 or visit

www.wildanet.com/business