High speed broadband has been introduced to two Cornish villages, in what is believed to be the first such broadband outlay of its kind in rural Britain.
The new broadband connections have so far been supplied to homes and businesses in two villages near Truro – Chacewater and Blackwater – but further roll outs in Cornwall will be ongoing, with the total project expected to be completed by 2014.
The broadband connections are part of a £132 million joint initiative between BT and the European Regional Development Fund with the aim of providing high-speed broad broadband to 90% of Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly.
The new broadband links have already introduced benefits previously unseen in the villages concerned, such as high-speed data downloads and faster, more reliable email communications.
The way is now open for local businesses in the area to take full advantage of the many other benefits of high speed broadband.
Among these benefits is business VoIP. VoIP (voice over internet protocol) is a means whereby voice calls are made using the internet rather than via traditional telephone line extensions.
One of the main advantages of adopting business VoIP is the substantial bottom line savings that can be made through not having to pay the higher rates normally charged by telephone companies.
Commenting on the new development, Nigel Ashcroft of the Cornwall Development Company, described it as “the best piece of infrastructure” the area will have within the next two decades, adding that it will help Cornish businesses “compete in a global economy”.
