MORE than 8,000 homes and businesses look set to benefit from fibre broadband connections direct to the premises across Devon and Somerset.

Connecting Devon and Somerset (CDS) has launched its Fibre Extension Programme to provide the fibre broadband connections by the end of 2021.

CDS is funding fibre broadband connections to more than 6,000 homes and businesses which will be delivered by Airband, and thanks to the high level of take-up of broadband services in the region from previous connectivity delivered by Openreach, CDS says it is re-investing a £6 million dividend to extend full fibre coverage to more than 2,000 premises, again working with Openreach, thanks to the Government’s ‘Gainshare’ agreement with the company.

Airband will begin engineering work this month in North Devon and rolling-out to communities across northern, west and central Devon including: Ilfracombe, Croyde and Georgeham, Gunn, Molland and East Anstey, Bideford, Abbotsham, Hartland, Putford, Holsworthy, Clawton, Gulworthy and Morwellham Quay, Lewtrenchard and Chillaton, Yeoford, Cheriton Bishop.

CDS’ new collaboration with Openreach will expand fibre broadband coverage in particularly hard to reach hamlets and villages and deprived rural areas in Devon and Somerset. This is made possible through the Gainshare agreement with Openreach, under which increasing take-up of broadband delivered through the first phase of the CDS programme generates additional funds for reinvestment in new broadband networks.

Initial survey work has begun in Oakford, near Bampton, and survey teams will continue their work across a broader cluster to the north of Tiverton and south of Dulverton, spanning the Devon and Somerset border and a second cluster to the east of Plymouth centred on Bickleigh, Wotter and Shaugh Prior. Once this survey work is completed, more precise details on which premises will be connected can be announced and a programme of engineering works will begin.

Additional communities set to benefit from new fibre connections delivered by Openreach for CDS will follow over the next two years. The areas included for survey are around the Teign Valley, Blue Anchor, Brayford and North Molton, Brompton Ralph, Exe Valley, Haccombe, Rocombe and the Teign Estuary, Lane End, Satterleigh and Warkleigh, South Kentisbury Ford, South Zeal and Throwleigh, Twitchen, Watermouth, Widecombe Parish, Yettington,.

Surveying will be carried out in compliance with Government social distancing rules and survey workers will not require entry to homes or businesses to carry out their duties.* 

These two schemes will complement a much bigger roll-out programme planned by CDS and supported by £18.7 million of Government funding. These contracts are due to be awarded by the end of 2020.

In parallel with these initiatives, CDS is working closely with the Government’s Rural Gigabit Voucher programme to support communities who wish to contract with telecoms providers to design and shape bespoke broadband solutions for their communities. Where appropriate, CDS provides additional finance from its Community Challenge Fund to help communities with funding shortfalls.

Councillor Rufus Gilbert, CDS Board Member and Devon County Council Cabinet Member for Economy and Skills, said: ‘This funding collaboration with Openreach is enabling us to provide more communities with access to reliable, superfast broadband.

‘With unprecedented numbers of people now working from home and keeping in touch via the internet, we’re fully aware of the important role the local broadband network is playing – and this investment will be a great addition to that.’

Anne Marie Morris, MP for Newton Abbot, said: ‘I’m delighted to see this small but welcome step and a commitment to accelerate broadband roll out in 2020-2021.’

David Ralph, Chief Executive of the Heart of the South West Local Enterprise Partnership, said: “I am very pleased to see £2.16 million of our Growth Deal and Growing Places funding supporting enhanced connectivity at such a critical time for businesses and residents. This support is fundamental to enabling businesses in North Devon, Torridge and West Devon recover and grow from COVID-19 by providing ultrafast broadband where the commercial market has so far failed to reach. We’re delighted to welcome this latest expansion of CDS fibre coverage.”

Simon Palmer, from Airband, said: “This new fibre build can be seamlessly integrated with our existing wireless infrastructure across the region, enabling us to provide faster speeds and future-proof connectivity whilst increasing the resilience of our network. This is the kind of 21st century connectivity that rural communities in the South West deserve and that recent challenges have shown to be so vital.”

Matthew Bateman, Director of Infrastructure Development for Openreach, said: “It’s great news that thousands of people in Devon and Somerset will soon have access to our ultrafast, ultrareliable full fibre network through our agreement with Connecting Devon and Somerset.

‘Recent economic research shows that full fibre infrastructure has the ability to turbo-charge the UK’s economy post-COVID-19 and this Gainshare funding will put more of the region’s hardest-to-reach households at the forefront of the shift to a full fibre digital network.

‘Good connectivity breathes new life and opportunities into remote communities - and we look forward to connecting even more of them.’