Since 2023, Wildanet has secured three contracts worth £77 million to roll out Full Fibre broadband to over 37,000 premises across Cornwall, as part of Project Gigabit. Work to date under the first two contracts has now seen 10,000 connections go live across 33 separate build areas in South West and Mid Cornwall, involving:

• More than 2,500 km of fibre-optic cable to be laid
• 159 km of physical infrastructure installation and civil engineering work
• A total of 1,622 new chambers constructed.

And representatives from the government, together with Anna Gelderd MP, joined Wildanet and its build partners Nokia and Xantaro in the village of St Germans, in South East Cornwall, to see the first equipment installed, kickstarting the next major phase of works under the third contract.

Telecoms Minister Chris Bryant said: "This is a landmark moment for Cornwall as we celebrate connecting 10,000 homes and businesses to fast, reliable broadband through Project Gigabit, transforming lives across the county.

"Cornwall's beautiful but challenging landscape has meant that people in rural communities have had to put up with painfully slow internet for too long. This milestone marks a step-change in how we're delivering our commitment to boost connectivity across Britain, ensuring that geography is no barrier to the greater opportunities and growth that this Government’s Plan for Change is all about.”

Justin Clark, Wildanet Chief Strategy & Technology Officer, said: “Reaching 10,000 live connections is a fantastic milestone for Wildanet and for the communities we are connecting across Cornwall. Providing reliable, high-speed broadband to rural and underserved areas is at the heart of our mission and fundamental to future wellbeing, social inclusion and economic opportunities in Cornwall.

“I want to thank those local communities for their understanding while we undertake this important infrastructure project for Cornwall and to recognise the dedication and commitment of the entire Wildanet team, the support of Project Gigabit and the expertise of our partners in all that we have achieved to date.

“As we continue to expand our network across Cornwall, we are excited to deliver the digital infrastructure that will drive economic growth and improve quality of life for even more homes and businesses throughout the county, both now and for many years to come.”

Anna Gelderd, Member of Parliament for South East Cornwall, said: "In today’s rapidly evolving digital world, reliable internet access is becoming a necessity. From saving money on everyday essentials to accessing vital services like GP appointments and job applications, digital inclusion is key to ensuring no one in South East Cornwall is left behind. It also supports remote working, helping skilled workers stay in our communities and attracting new industries to the area.

"That’s why Project Gigabit’s investment and Wildanet’s fibre roll-out in St Germans are such important milestones. As a local company, Wildanet is not only delivering vital infrastructure but also creating opportunities and strengthening our economy. Combined with this Labour Government’s Digital Inclusion Action Plan, we are building a more connected and resilient future for South East Cornwall."

In 2024 Wildanet announced a groundbreaking new partnership agreement with global telecoms giant Nokia and international network infrastructure specialists Xantaro, with the aim of accelerating its network roll-out. This brought together Wildanet’s experience locally in transforming connectivity for rural and hard-to-reach areas in the South West, with Nokia and Xantaro’s international expertise and resources in planning, project managing and delivering major infrastructure and network deployments.

Both were on hand in St Germans, with Wildanet’s own build managers to talk through the latest stages of the build and the cutting-edge technology being used to streamline network installation and commissioning as well as future-proofing the new network by building-in real-time testing, monitoring and optimisation capability into the new network.

Paul Alexander, Vice President and Country General Manager of UK&I at Nokia, said: “Wildanet's recent achievements highlight how Nokia's proven technology and expertise supports accelerating network rollouts and providing cutting-edge connectivity to rural areas. Building a partnership on a shared vision with Wildanet, we are able to leverage the power of Nokia's solutions, from project management and delivery services to a full Nokia XGS-PON and Managed WiFi portfolio, to bridge the digital divide and empower businesses and communities in Cornwall.”

Stephen Kingdom, Chief Technology Officer, Fixed Networks, for Xantaro, said: “We’ve seen first-hand the great work Wildanet is doing in the area and commitment that the team has to bringing advanced broadband to local residents. Wildanet has been a big believer in the quality of our solutions and we’re very pleased to be bringing this project to life, adding more homes onto the network.”