Wildanet Builds 2Gbps FTTP Broadband Network into Bude via Project Gigabit

Alternative rural broadband provider Wildanet, which is building a new 2Gbps speed full fibre (FTTP) network across rural parts of South West England, has today announced that they’re now deploying to 2,318 premises across Bude, Stratton and surrounding villages including Hersham, Grimscott and Marhamchurch in Cornwall.

The work forms part of Wildanet’s remaining Project Gigabit contract for Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly (Lot 32), which was awarded back in April 2024 (here) and originally valued at £41m (public subsidy) to connect 16,800 premises in hard-to-reach rural areas (it’s since been modified to target 14,430 contracted premises). So far they’ve already covered 3,460 of the contracted premises under this build (here).

The project for Bude is expected to be completed by late summer 2026 and this expansion will build on Wildanet’s wider full-fibre rollout, which has already seen more than 50,000 connections enabled across the region, through a combination of private investment and publicly funded initiatives.

Residents and businesses around Bude will be able to register their interest and check availability, with connections going live on a phased basis as the network is completed – www.wildanet.com/bude. We should point out that most of the town is already covered with FTTP from Openreach, so this contract is expected to focus on the more rural areas.

Simon Hughes, Wildanet Chief Commercial Officer, said:

“Bringing Cornwall’s fastest broadband to Bude is a significant milestone for us and for the local community. This expansion is about more than just faster speeds – it is about giving the town and its residents the reliable, future-proofed digital infrastructure they need in everyday life and work.

Through a combination of our own investment and Project Gigabit support we are continuing to deliver high-quality connectivity to communities that have historically been underserved. Bude is a vibrant and growing town and, as Cornwall’s homegrown broadband provider, we’re excited and proud to be supporting its future connectivity needs.”

UK Telecoms Minister, Liz Lloyd, said:

“Through Project Gigabit, we’re working with Wildanet to boost local economies here, across Cornwall and beyond – bringing some of the fastest broadband speeds in the UK to communities that were once left behind.

This is about more than faster internet. With reliable, high-speed connectivity people can build businesses, apply for better jobs and stay connected with the people and services that matter to them.”

The news, while welcome, does admittedly come shortly after Wildanet withdrew from fully completing the build on two other Project Gigabit contracts (here) for Cornwall Central (Lot 32.03) and South West Cornwall (Lot 32.02) – both originally awarded back in January 2023.