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BT boosts superfast broadband in Cornwall

Cornwall is hoping to be one of the best connected areas in the world after a £132 million superfast broadband project is completed.

By Tom Brewster, 23 Nov 2010 at 15:02

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BT will help bring superfast broadband to eight Cornish communities within five months, potentially benefiting more than 10,000 businesses.

It forms part of a £132 million project, funded by the EU and BT, designed to make Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly one of the best connected areas in the world.

Leedstown, Chiverton Cross area, St Agnes, Portreath, St Day, Devoran, Stenalees and Par are the chosen areas to benefit first.

Following the pilot project, the main rollout programme will start with an initial focus on south-east Cornwall.

Project organisers, including the county council’s Cornwall Development Company, expect between 80 and 90 per cent of businesses and households in Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly to have access to fibre broadband by 2014.

“This is an incredibly innovative and pioneering project never before done on this scale,” said Nigel Ashcroft, director of next generation broadband for Cornwall Development Company.

“A pilot scheme in these eight locations will provide valuable feedback at an early stage as we prepare for the early phases of the roll-out programme primarily in the South East of the county.”

Jon Reynolds, BT South West regional director, described the project as “transformational” and claimed it would bring immense economic benefits to the region.

“It is excellent news that the first Cornish businesses and homes will have access to super-fast broadband at such an early stage,” he added.

“This is a transformational project, which will boost the productivity of local businesses and help to attract a more diverse range of high-growth companies to the area.”

BT recently noted its commitment to helping support rural areas with superfast connectivity as the telecoms giant suggested other providers, in particular Virgin, were not putting in as much effort in such places.

Virgin responded by saying it had plans to expand its network to more remote locations, pointing to a number of pilot projects of its own.