Is there any doubt that we are in the midst of a digital revolution? The way every business works, every life (especially those under 40) operates, is being transformed by digital technology. Every decision, every application, almost every purchase – all online.
This revolution particularly benefits places like Plymouth: relatively remote but with a plentiful skills base and stunning natural assets. With digital technology we retain the assets but are suddenly not so remote. But it is vital that the infrastructure is put in place.
Some years ago the government started pumping millions into schemes to improve broadband access and speeds around the country. Connecting Devon and Cornwall (CDS) was set up by our local authorities to take this forward. CDS entered into a three year contract with BT to invest in our local network. Last year that contract came to an end and now Gigaclear have been engaged to provide full fibre broadband coverage in line with the government’s programme.
Much of the infrastructure is put in place by the commercial giants like Virgin or BT, but this leaves stubborn pockets which are not commercially viable, which is where CDS steps in. To date, more than 250,000 homes and businesses across Devon and Somerset have access to superfast broadband (24 Megabytes per second) thanks to CDS-funded networks. Over 248,000 miles of fibre cable have already been laid, enough to circle the Earth ten times, in a programme that has taken over 2 million-man hours.
In the next phase of this massive engineering project, Gigaclear is already building a new full fibre network that by December 2019 will provide over 41,000 homes and businesses with access to ultrafast broadband.
Across northern and west Devon Airband is building a new wireless network that will provide access to superfast broadband for 13,000 homes and businesses by December 2019, and is completing a network to serve almost 5,000 hard-to-reach properties in Dartmoor and Exmoor National Parks with superfast broadband.
In addition to this the government has introduced a Universal Service obligation to ensure that all homes receive at least 10 Mbps by 2020. It is important to guarantee that nobody gets left behind.
There remain some stubborn not-spots, but they are gradually receiving attention. It is worth looking at the CDS website to see when your area is going to be upgraded.
Technology cannot be un-invented. Our world is changing. We have little choice but to embrace it and enjoy its benefits.