The Superfast broadband project of a few years ago helped get
Cornwall ahead of the rest of the country in terms of broadband speeds and
paved the way for a new generation of businesses who could benefit from being
located in Cornwall without the usual problems of distance from the market.
However, the fact that most
of the county has high speeds makes it all the more galling for those
communities who were left behind and who have had to struggle on with very poor
broadband connections. Getting high speed broadband solutions to the
remaining five percent of households not covered by the original programme is
now a priority for government and work continues. So I was pleased to learn
that parts of Camborne and Redruth, including Connor Downs, Sandy Lane and Four
Lanes, are the latest in the Duchy to receive superfast broadband.
£7.6 million will be invested in the latest phase of the fibre broadband rollout in Cornwall, reaching more than 8,000 premises in Cornwall's most challenging locations by early next year. Additionally, Cornwall Council and the Cornwall and Isles of Scilly Local Enterprise Partnership are investing alongside the Government's Broadband Delivery UK programme and BT.
I want us to make the most of the opportunities that superfast broadband offers. The computer software industry has really taken off in this part of Cornwall in recent years. Superfast broadband means that software companies can compete around the world from a digital connection in Cornwall.
We are already beginning to
feel the benefits, with software companies like Headforwards, Blue Fruit and
Netbooster thriving. Innovation centres at Pool and Tremough play an important
role in incubating new start-ups. Meanwhile, proposals for a new fibre
park in Pool to bring together software companies and training from Cornwall
College to create opportunities for local school leavers could take things to
the next level. We have the chance to really put Cornwall on the map in
this sector
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