Pioneering Superfast Cornwall connects first 50 customers

29.03.11

Superfast Broadband is now available to more than 1,000 Cornish homes and businesses, and the first 50 customers have now been connected.

The sophisticated technology is now available to homes and businesses in the Chiverton Cross and Chacewater areas. Within a few days super-fast broadband is also expected to have ‘gone live’ in St Agnes, St Day, Portreath, Devoran, Leedstown, Stenalees and Par offering the high-speed service to another 14,000 customers.

They are part of a pilot scheme run in advance of the main roll-out programme, which in its early phases will focus particularly on South East Cornwall.

The ambitious Superfast Cornwall initiative, managed by Cornwall Development Company, is building a high-speed network available on an equal basis to all firms providing broadband services.

By 2014 the programme, funded by BT and the European Regional Development Fund Convergence programme, is expected to have delivered super-fast fibre broadband to at least 80 per cent of households and businesses in Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly.

Up to £53.5 million of the funding is coming from ERDF Convergence, the largest ever single European investment in broadband infrastructure, whilst BT is investing £78.5 million. It is expected to create 4,000 new jobs and protect a further 2,000 and will make Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly one of the best connected locations in the world.

Cornish households and businesses are getting a head start with access to some of the best broadband speeds in the world. The super-fast service will boost the competitiveness of local firms and offer a whole new range of flexible working, entertainment and learning opportunities for local residents.

For more information, please see the Superfast Cornwall website.