A new report has analysed the social, economic and environmental benefits of digital inclusion, predicting that the roll out of a gigabit capable broadband network in Devon will generate more than £1bn of new business gross value added by 2030.
The Connecting Devon report was published by policy institute Curia and commissioned by South West internet provider Wildanet. It showed that Devon could benefit from gigabit-speed broadband "as a result of increased productivity, revenues, export and SME growth".
Curia also forecasts a major environmental impact, with more than £400m of equivalent carbon taxation savings between 2021 and 2030.
Wildanet is currently working in more than 15 areas across Devon to bring its gigabit-capable network to more than 25,000 homes and businesses across the county including Ashburton, Axminster, Holsworthy, Ipplepen, South Brent, South Molton, Totnes, Yealmpton and Yelverton.
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Devon is currently underperforming compared to the rest of the 海角视频, with only 54% having access to gigabit speed broadband, against a national figure of 75%, according to the report.
The 海角视频 government are currently rolling out a £5bn programme to connect hard-to-reach communities and earlier this year awarded Liskeard-based Wildanet with two contracts worth £36m to provided gigabit-capable broadband to more than 19,000 premises in South West Cornwall and Mid Cornwall as part of Project Gigabit.
Additionally, the report highlights that 39% of people in the South West have ‘low’ or ‘very low’ digital skills and in Devon 78,000 people have still never used the internet.
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There is also new potential for inward investment, business start-ups and higher-value jobs for Devon. Plus the environmental impact of gigabit-capable broadband is large, with the research suggesting that it could enable more people to work from home and a full fibre nation could save 300m commuting trips each year.
Based on the current research, the additional impact of gigabit broadband in Devon could be more than £400m of equivalent carbon taxation savings between 2021 and 2030.
Helen Wylde, chief executive of Wildanet, said: “This report highlights not only the opportunity we have to bring transformational change to those in rural and remote communities, but the responsibility we have in achieving it. Our mission at Wildanet is to end digital poverty through connecting people, communities, and businesses, wherever they are in Cornwall and Devon.
“We recently received an additional £50m investment from our principal shareholder, Gresham House, which will enable us to accelerate our high-speed broadband roll-out in Devon and Cornwall by up to five years and therefore accelerate digital inclusion with all of its benefits. While this report is specific to Devon, there are clearly implications for the provision of high-speed broadband nationally”.
Minister for Data and Digital Infrastructure, Sir John Whittingdale, added: "This report demonstrates the enormous benefits that access to high-speed, reliable connectivity can bring. The rollout of gigabit-capable networks in Devon will generate more than £1bn by 2030 – a truly transformative sum of money. The government’s progress in delivering a digital infrastructure revolution has been remarkable, boosting access to high-speed connectivity across the country by more than 70% in just four years.
"We have also taken significant steps to ensure no one is left behind in the digital age, putting digital skills on an equal footing in the education system alongside maths and English, and working with Ofcom and industry to bring in a range of social tariffs to widen access to connectivity."
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