Cornwall UK Expands Superfast Broadband Coverage Target to 95%

The joint public and privately funded £132m Superfast Cornwall scheme, which originally aimed to deploy BT fibre optic (FTTC etc.) based broadband ISP services to “at least” 80% of homes and businesses in Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly by the end of 2014, has now expanded its target to cover 95%.

According to BT the move has been made possible by reinvestment of savings from efficiency improvements. Apparently “many of these efficiencies” have been achieved through innovations, such as the use of lightweight overhead fibre cables on telegraph poles.

Liv Garfield, CEO of BTOpenreach, said:

“Cornwall was the first English county out of the blocks when it came to fibre broadband. The Council’s strong focus on extensive fibre coverage for Cornwall and the Scilly Isles is generating great results. We have been able to test run some new innovations in the county and as a result we have delivered efficiencies which are now enabling us to go further than we first thought possible. This is a public private partnership that is delivering with the upside of the efficiencies being reinvested in the county.”

Ed Vaizey, Communications Minister, added:

“It’s fantastic that 95 per cent of homes and businesses in Cornwall are now set to reap the benefits of superfast broadband following today’s announcement. The UK already does more business online than any other European country, and widespread access to superfast broadband will provide a tremendous boost to Cornwall’s local economy.”

Superfast Cornwall is a partnership between the European Union, BT and Cornwall Council that was launched in 2010. The funding sees £78.5 million from BT and up to £53.5 million from the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF).

At the last count over 50% of Cornish premises had gained access to the new connection and more than 20,000 customers have adopted the service.