Will New Investments Finally Bring Reliable Broadband to Somerset?

January 13, 2025

Efforts to enhance broadband speeds in rural Somerset, England, have been ongoing for over a decade. Despite numerous initiatives, many rural areas still struggle with slow and unreliable internet connections. The recent announcement of a £77 million contract by the newly-elected Labour government aims to change this by extending superfast broadband to “hard-to-reach rural areas” in Devon and Somerset. This initiative is part of the broader Project Gigabit, which includes existing agreements with Openreach. This significant investment is intended to bridge the digital divide that has left many communities in rural Somerset lagging behind their urban counterparts in terms of digital connectivity.

Historical Challenges in Rural Broadband

Rural areas in Somerset have long faced difficulties in securing fast and reliable broadband. This issue has persisted for over a decade, with numerous providers abandoning contracts under various initiatives, most notably the Connecting Devon and Somerset program. These setbacks have left many communities without the promised connectivity, exacerbating the digital divide between urban and rural areas. The struggle to connect rural Somerset has been marked by broken promises and stalled projects, leaving residents and businesses to grapple with subpar internet services.

The latest development in this ongoing struggle came on January 7, when the Labour government announced a significant investment aimed at addressing these challenges. The £77 million contract is designed to extend superfast broadband to rural areas that have been historically underserved. This initiative is part of the broader Project Gigabit, which aims to provide gigabit-capable broadband to more than 1.1 million hard-to-reach premises nationwide. The hope is that this will finally bring reliable and fast internet to the rural areas of Somerset, connecting businesses and households that have long been left behind.

Advocacy by Somerset MPs

Two Somerset Members of Parliament, Gideon Amos and Rachel Gilmour, have been at the forefront of advocating for better digital connectivity for their constituents. They have proactively lobbied Chris Bryant, the Minister of Data Protection and Telecoms, to ensure that their constituencies are included in the new broadband contracts. The expected outreach of these contracts is anticipated to benefit approximately 37,000 properties across Devon and Somerset. Their efforts aim to ensure that no community is left out of the digital revolution.

Chris Bryant has articulated the government’s aim of eliminating the so-called “circle of doom” for families and businesses in these rural locales by delivering fast and reliable internet. He highlights that the government’s Plan for Change strives to prevent anyone from being held back in their professional or personal lives due to the lack of digital connectivity. The importance of digital access has only grown in recent years, and the MPs’ advocacy is a crucial component of ensuring these rural areas are not left behind.

Government Investment and Project Gigabit

The newly signed broadband contract is part of a larger £289 million investment by the government across England and Wales. This investment is intended to provide gigabit-capable broadband to around 131,000 additional homes and businesses. The new contract supplements the existing arrangement with Openreach, which has already set out to serve 96,600 premises, summing up the total targeted addresses to 227,600. This substantial investment reflects the government’s commitment to ensuring no part of the country remains disconnected.

Openreach CEO Clive Selley praised the initiative’s broad reach, underscoring the potential societal and economic benefits, including a projected £73 billion productivity boost. Selley expressed confidence in achieving the goal of connecting around 30 million premises by the end of the decade, provided that suitable regulatory and investment conditions prevail. The impact of widespread gigabit-capable broadband cannot be overstated, as it promises to transform rural communities, enabling them to thrive in an increasingly digital world.

The Need for Modernized Broadband Infrastructure

The need for modernized broadband infrastructure is particularly acute in rural settings. The government had earlier allocated up to £800 million in August 2024 to uplift the broadband infrastructure in such regions across England, Scotland, and Wales. The Project Gigabit contracts are set to ensure that speeds of at least one gigabit per second become a reality for more than 1.1 million hard-to-reach premises nationwide. This move aims to provide the necessary digital infrastructure to support economic growth and social development in these areas.

Gideon Amos, MP for Taunton and Wellington, has addressed the perennial issue of subpar broadband services in his constituency. He brought attention to the disparity where 71.6 percent of premises in his area theoretically have access to gigabit speeds, yet considerable parts fall within the worst 30 percent nationally for average download speeds. Specific areas like Ruishton, North Curry, Galmington, and Trull are particularly disadvantaged, ranking among the worst 10 percent in the country. Amos’s advocacy highlights the critical need for targeted investments to ensure that these communities are not left behind.

Addressing Past Failures and Future Plans

Amos had previously engaged Airband to deliver full fiber broadband in 2020 across certain regions of Somerset, but the company reneged on its commitments by October 2024. This withdrawal left many communities, including Burrowbridge and Sampford Arundel, stranded without promised connectivity. In response to the renewed contract with Openreach and Project Gigabit, Amos sought assurances that areas left out by Airband’s abandoned contract would be incorporated into future implementation plans. His calls for accountability and clear communication show his dedication to ensuring these communities are finally connected.

He emphasized the necessity of timely and clear communication from Building Digital UK regarding specific areas covered under the new contract and how further inclusion might be achieved. Importantly, he stressed the essential role of gigabit connection, comparing it to other fundamental utilities like electricity and gas. Without it, rural communities in Somerset would continue to face economic and social adversities. The renewed efforts and ongoing contracts offer hope that these long-standing issues will be resolved.

The Urgency of Fast Broadband for Tiverton and Minehead

For more than a decade, efforts to improve broadband speeds in rural Somerset, England, have been ongoing. Despite numerous initiatives, many rural areas continue to struggle with slow and unreliable internet connections. However, the recent announcement of a £77 million contract by the newly-elected Labour government aims to change this. The initiative focuses on extending superfast broadband to “hard-to-reach rural areas” in Devon and Somerset. This is part of the wider Project Gigabit, which includes existing agreements with Openreach. This significant investment seeks to bridge the digital divide, ensuring that rural communities in Somerset catch up with their urban counterparts in terms of digital connectivity. The goal is to provide these underserved areas with the same level of access and internet speed enjoyed by cities, thereby enhancing education, business opportunities, and overall quality of life for rural residents. This kind of substantial investment is essential to closing the gap and bringing broadband equality to all of Somerset’s residents.

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