Local broadband provider given Cornish Project Gigabit contracts

The government’s nationwide Project Gigabit broadband scheme will continue in Cornwall after a contract was awarded to local supplier Wildanet. 

Work will now begin to connect hard to reach areas in South West and Mid Cornwall under the government’s £5bn scheme and it is thought up to 19,260 homes and businesses could be connected to lightning fast broadband.

Digital Infrastructure Minister Julia Lopez said: ‘From Tintagel to Tredavoe, we are investing millions of pounds to connect almost 20,000 homes and businesses across Cornwall to lightning-fast broadband. 

‘This will generate growth and opportunity for people in the region’s rural communities.’ 

Two contracts worth a total of £36m were granted to Wildanet, which says it expects to create 200 new jobs as a result of taking on the work whilst the company’s training academy will continue to aid local people to be able to take on the roles. 

The company is already working on an ultrafast broadband network in Cornwall and Devon with a 10 Gbps network capable of speeds up to 100 times faster than the current average in the county of Cornwall. 

Wildanet’s Chief Executive Officer Helen Wylde said: ‘The funding from the government will help to breathe new life into Cornwall’s rural communities and give people access to the opportunities that gigabit broadband provides. 

‘It will also send out a positive signal to remote communities across the country who, to date, do not have the broadband connectivity to benefit from the digital age that many of us now take for granted in our daily lives. Wildanet undertakes to deliver on this project using the public funds provided through these awards as a key player for Cornwall, by Cornwall, and of Cornwall.’ 

It is anticipated that the first premises to benefit from the works will have access to the gigabit-capable broadband by Summer of this year whilst the network provider will also be ensuring digital inclusion to excluded areas through free WiFi and an affordable social tariff. 

Local residents can check the Wildanet website to see if they will benefit from the new scheme. 

A £108m contract to connect homes in Cumbria under Project Gigabit was awarded to Fibrus last year with the first connections expected to be completed in the coming months.

Photo by Wildanet