Broadband in Cornwall
Broadband availability in Cornwall has always been somewhat challenging, as perhaps you’d expect from such a rural area. It’s a large county, and with its population being relatively widely spread, efforts to provide fast broadband have naturally proved difficult.
In fact, Ofcom’s 2022 Connected Nations report showed that there were still many outlying properties unable to access broadband speeds of more than 2Mbps, leaving them unable to access entertainment or able to work from home. And in some particularly isolated areas, around 45% of households found themselves in this position.
Broadband availability
Looking more widely though, the picture is by no means entirely bleak. So far, over £150m has been invested in the county’s Superfast Cornwall project which has helped bring fast and affordable broadband options to over 40% of properties. Speeds of up to 1000Mbps can be had via FTTP broadband (that’s Fibre-to-the-Premises – meaning it’s cabled directly into the home, and not relying on old copper phone lines). And really, that’s as good as anywhere else in the UK right now.
The majority of others are now able to access FTTC services (using those old phone lines) of over 30Mbps – which is still adequate for most uses. Other alternatives include mobile broadband (delivered via established mobile phone networks) and satellite broadband, although that can involve a significant investment in equipment.
Internet providers in Cornwall
Because of this investment, all the major UK broadband providers are available in some shape or form in the county. These include BT, Sky, TalkTalk, Plusnet, Vodafone and NOW – all of which use OpenReach’s national network. Openreach is expanding the network at an ever accelerating rate, with a target of reaching 25 million UK premises by the end of 2026..
Access to Virgin Media’s own, entirely independent FTTP network is somewhat more limited, although for those fortunate users who can access it, speeds of over 2.2Gbps could be just around the corner. And that’s about as future proof as it gets.
Phone providers serving Cornwall, such as Three, Vodafone and EE Broadband also offer mobile broadband solutions that can be simple, cheap and effective – if you have an adequate phone signal. Although speeds are rarely competitive with fixed line broadband, and can sometimes be inconsistent.
Local initiatives and specialities
There are also several specialist suppliers which serve the county. Locally based Wildanet, with offices in Liskeard, Redruth and Pensilva are currently investing over £50m in their network, providing improvements via both fixed line and wireless services. They’re also offering free wi-fi in community centres and village halls in various locations.
Cornwall Broadband maintains a network providing rural coverage concentrated around the north and east of the county. And Jurassic Fibre, headquartered over the border in Devon, recently announced the start of an extension westwards, with an initial focus on areas in and around Bude. That’s part of a £250m investment, so it’s safe to say they’ll be looking to connect more areas in future.
Aside from home users, businesses in Cornwall who suffer from poor broadband may be able to access grant funding from Superfast Cornwall’s Inclusive Growth Programme – up to £5,000 is available to cover up to 80% of the costs incurred.
Broadband speeds
Identifying speeds by specific towns or areas is a difficult process – neighbouring postcodes and even adjacent streets can sometimes have dramatically different speeds. That said, most larger towns such as Falmouth, Penzance, Camborne, Newquay, St Austell and Truro are all now relatively well connected, with many properties able to access speeds in excess of 300Mbps. Wadebridge, Torpoint and Launceston are particularly well served. Unfortunately, Perranporth, Padstow and St Neot – to name just a few – are still connectivity blackspots.
The future
Overall, the picture is certainly looking up regarding broadband in Cornwall. With many tens of millions already invested – and with many more to come – it seems that even the most isolated areas are likely to find their options improving in the near future.