Sep 30 2010
Cornwall County will get super-fast broadband internet access due to a £132m project. involving fibre-optic networks, which will allow faster connections. The objective of the project is to provide fibre broadband access to 80% to 90% of homes and businesses by 2014.
Half of internet users are to get direct fibre optic connections
BT and the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF) will offer about £78.5m and £53.5m, respectively, for the fibre-optic project. The project will provide direct fibre connections to 50% of the homes and businesses in the county with maximum download speeds of 100 Mbps.
The optical cables will also link the entire street-side telephone junction boxes for connecting the rest of the internet users. The last connection to these computers will be done with copper wire and will enable maximum download speeds of 40 Mbps.
Alec Robertson, the Cornwall Council leader, stated that the fibre optic project would change the local economy in the next 20 years. He added that the high broadband speeds would create numerous job opportunities due to new business investments in the county.