UK incumbent BT has signed a satellite broadband partnership agreement that will help it provide near-universal broadband in the rural southwest of the country.
The five-year contract is with UK-based satellite broadband operator Avanti Communications…
UK incumbent BT has signed a satellite broadband partnership agreement that will help it provide near-universal broadband in the rural southwest of the country.
The five-year contract is with UK-based satellite broadband operator Avanti Communications Group, which will support BT’s recently announced £132m public private partnership to improve internet access in Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly by 2014.
BT aims to provide 80-90% of homes and businesses in Cornwall with super-fast fibre broadband through advanced copper, wireless or satellite broadband.
BT is contributing £78.5 million to the project, while the European Regional Development Fund is giving £53.5million.
In a statement, BT confirmed that it had signed an agreement with Avanti to provide “satellite broadband services to the minority of homes and businesses in Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly that are unable to receive a super-fast broadband service due to the challenging geography”.
Avanti’s chief executive, David Williams, welcomed the deal, adding: “We firmly believe that our complementary business models will prove to be a vitally important example to the rest of the UK and Europe of how to solve the digital divide.”
The agreement with Avanti is not limited to Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly, and will enable BT to roll out satellite broadband throughout the UK.
