Wildanet’s Digital Revolution in Cornwall Showcased in ITN Business Film

Cornish broadband provider Wildanet is in the spotlight with a feature in a new ITN Business film, Digital Britain: Connecting the Nation. Premiering at the Connected Britain 2024 event in London, the film highlights Wildanet’s efforts to transform digital connectivity across the South West, as it competes with major players like Openreach and Ordnance Survey.

Digital Infrastructure’s Growing Role in the UK

The ITN programme, hosted by Duncan Golestani, takes a deep dive into the importance of digital infrastructure for the UK economy. In 2019, the digital sector contributed £151 billion to the economy and made up nine per cent of the national workforce. The film, produced in collaboration with Connected Britain, Mobile UK, TechUK and the UK Telecoms Innovation Network (UKTIN)., features Wildanet alongside industry leaders shaping the future of connectivity in the UK.

Wildanet: Leading Digital Inclusion and Sustainability

Wildanet’s role in digital inclusion and sustainability has earned it widespread recognition, from winning the Sustainability Award at the Connected Britain Awards 2023 and more recently winning Best Sustainability Programme and Best Rural Fibre Provider at the 2024 UK Fibre Awards. Closer to home, Wildanet was awarded Most Sustainable Large Business. The company’s commitment to digital inclusion extends to connecting some of the most remote areas in the South West, partnering with government-backed schemes like Project Gigabit to improve internet access.

This work has not only transformed connectivity but has also created local job opportunities. The Wildanet Technical Training Academy, launched in partnership with Truro and Penwith College, offers apprenticeship schemes aimed at training the next generation of telecommunications engineers.

Expanding Broadband Access and Local Impact

The company’s rapid growth has been driven by significant investments, including nearly £100 million from Gresham House’s sustainable infrastructure strategy. Wildanet now employs more than 220 staff, most of whom are from Devon and Cornwall, and has doubled its workforce over the last 18 months.

In 2024, Wildanet became the first UK-based Alternative Network Provider to be awarded Certified B Corporation status, acknowledging its ethical and sustainable business practices.

CEO Helen Wylde Archibald emphasised Wildanet’s impact, stating: “Our commitment to sustainability, social responsibility, and digital inclusion is transforming lives in Cornwall and beyond.” The company’s continued focus on local communities is demonstrated by partnerships such as its work with Cabilla Cornwall’s Merlin Hanbury-Tenison to preserve the Atlantic Temperate Rainforest.

Growing Support and Future Ambitions

Wildanet’s influence has grown with key government contracts, securing £41 million in April 2024 to roll out connections to 16,800 homes and businesses in Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly. This builds on previous contracts worth £36 million, awarded in 2023.

With its recent £35 million investment from the UK Infrastructure Bank, Wildanet is well-positioned to accelerate broadband access across underserved rural areas, further driving economic growth in the region.

In July, Wildanet announced a groundbreaking new partnership agreement with global telecoms giant Nokia to support the roll-out of its new gigabit-enabled Full Fibre network for Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly.

For more information, watch the full film Digital Britain: Connecting the Nation here.