Residents in rural Cornwall are set to benefit from faster broadband after local supplier Wildanet was awarded a £36m contract to roll out new connections.
As part of the Government’s £5bn Project Gigabit to supply hard-to-reach areas with better broadband, two contracts have been awarded to the Liskeard-based supplier.
The improved broadband should benefit up to 19,250 homes and businesses in South West and Mid Cornwall. Wildanet also expects to create 200 jobs. 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.
‘The move is part of the government’s flagship £5bn Project Gigabit programme to spread fast, reliable and fit for the future broadband to rural and remote communities in the UK.’
Helen Wylde, Wildanet chief executive officer, 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.’
