Cornwall-based internet provider Wildanet has secured £35 million to extend broadband to rural parts of the county. Wildanet announced it would use the funding from the UK Infrastructure Bank to continue upgrading and expanding its high-speed network.
The rollout will provide up to a further 20,000 homes and businesses with “significantly faster” broadband connections, the company stated. In addition to the bank’s finance package, Wildanet has a revolving credit facility with Santander, structured with the assistance of Deloitte, to support its work in Cornwall as part of Project Gigabit.
Helen Wylde-Archibald, chief executive of Wildanet, said: “Today’s announcement supports and accelerates our far-reaching roll-out plans for Cornwall and unlocks growth in our own company as we continue our mission to transform connectivity and opportunities in Cornwall, at the same time as creating a dynamic, profitable and sustainable business.”
In April, Wildanet was awarded a £41 million contract to roll out new connections to more than 16,800 homes and businesses in East Cornwall, West Cornwall, and the island of St Mary’s in the Isles of Scilly. This followed an announcement in 2023 when Wildanet was awarded two contracts worth £36 million to connect up to 19,250 homes and businesses in South West and mid-Cornwall.
