ISP Vtesse Broadband (Vtesse Networks), which specialises in delivering "super-fast" internet connections into otherwise niche rural UK communities, has now made its broadband service available to all residents of two Cornish communities - Hatt and Higher Pill.

Some 574 households in Higher Pill, and a further 262 in Hatt, which have until now only been able to get very slow sub-2Mbps broadband via BT's aging copper network, can now access speeds of up to 40Mbps using FTTC technology.



Prior to launching this new service, Vtesse Broadband conducted joint technical trails with Virgin Media UK, offering super-fast broadband to 15 households in Hatt and Higher Pill.


Vtesse itself has long-held ambitions to make its super-fast service available to hundreds of other Final Third communities, but is calling for the Government to review telecoms regulation and rates in order to make this economically viable.

The UK Governments Minister for Communication, Culture and the Creative Industries, Ed Vaizey, recently brought the issue forward again after he shocked ISPs by scrapping plans to review the controversial tax on new fibre optic broadband lines (Fibre Tax).

Instead of reviewing the tax, Vaizey and the VOA agreed to adjust the rates slightly and issue revised guidelines. Sadly these have unfortunately made the situation even more complicated and done little to address the existing imbalance (big operators get charged significantly less than smaller ones). But only the smaller ones are targeting the most expensive "Final Third" communities. Oh very clever Vaizey, thanks a lot for that :sad: .