UK incumbent BT is to take super-fast broadband to rural areas in Southwest England in a £132m public-private partnership with the European Union.
The programme – to which BT is contributing £78.5m and ERDF (European Regional Development Fund)…
UK incumbent BT is to take super-fast broadband to rural areas in Southwest England in a £132m public-private partnership with the European Union.
The programme – to which BT is contributing £78.5m and ERDF (European Regional Development Fund) Convergence programme up to £53.5m – is managed by Cornwall Council’s economic development arm, Cornwall Development Company.
BT’s network division, Openreach, will ensure that the infrastructure is available on an equal basis to all companies providing broadband services.
Piloted in a number of communities in the county of Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly, 80-90% of businesses and households in Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly by 2014 will be able to access super-fast fibre broadband by 2014.
According to Carolyn Rule, Cornwall Council cabinet member for economy and regeneration, the project “shows the power of the public and private sectors working together”.
Speaking at a Westminster eForum on delivering superfast broadband to the UK and highlighting the Cornwall project as well as another effort in Northern Ireland, BT Broadband Director Liv Garfield said that the incumbent intended to set up further partnerships with public bodies to ensure it was able to connect the majority of British residents to fast networks.
In this case, the minority that will not be able to access fibre-based broadband immediately will have be able to connect via wireless, satellite broadband, advanced copper and a further extension of the fibre network.
