Satellite Solutions joins Cornwall broadband venture

Rural and alternative global broadband specialist Satellite Solutions Worldwide Group announced on Friday that it had agreed a new venture to deliver “superfast” broadband services to small and medium sized enterprises in Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly.

The AIM-traded firm said the £1.2m initiative was fully funded by the European Regional Development Fund, and operated in conjunction with British satellite operator Avanti Communications Group.

It said the initial aim is to bring 1,000 SMEs online over the next three years with superfast 40 Mbps satellite broadband, and SSW would be one of the certified service providers.

The services, which would be available immediately and delivered via Avanti's HYLAS 2 Ka-band satellite, would be the first-time SSW had offered off-the-shelf superfast 40 Mbps download and 6 Mbps upload services, which was currently the fastest satellite broadband speed in Europe.

SSW said the scheme would enable targeted businesses to be connected to superfast broadband services of 40 Mbps with no upfront hardware or installation capital costs.

The scheme was being operated in conjunction with a separate £9m 'Superfast Cornwall' scheme to introduce more superfast alternative broadband technologies to the region.

“This is a great initiative and we are delighted to be able to provide local businesses with our superfast broadband services,” said CEO Andrew Walwyn.

“Our model is focused on providing superfast broadband to customers who are suffering due to the 'digital divide'.

“Schemes that help fund these installations, such as this ERDF initiative, are very welcome and we look forward to working closely with them in the coming months.”