MP backs broadband revolution for rural Devon

Efforts to bridge the digital divide in rural Devon gained momentum this week as North Devon MP Ian Roome met with Helen Wylde-Archibald, Chief Executive of South West-based broadband provider Wildanet. 

The discussion centred on Wildanet’s ambitious plans to upgrade the county’s broadband infrastructure, bringing fast, reliable internet to communities often left behind by previous rollouts.

Mr Roome visited Wildanet’s Bideford facility and toured ongoing work in South Molton, where the company is expanding its gigabit-capable fibre network. With only 66.7 per cent of Devon’s homes and businesses having access to high-speed broadband, compared to 84.7 per cent nationally. 

Wildanet have said: “Access to fast, reliable broadband is critical for Devon’s communities, many of which have been left behind in successive broadband rollouts.”

Highlighting the importance of enhanced connectivity, Mr Roome said: “The work Wildanet is doing is vital. Making sure that our rural communities have fast and reliable access to broadband is not just a matter of convenience, it is essential to tackling the digital divide and fostering inclusion. I am excited to work closely with them to bring Devon’s digital infrastructure up to speed and ensure that no community is left behind.”

Wildanet’s CEO, Helen Wylde-Archibald, emphasised the potential impact of their project, noting that expanding broadband could inject over £1bn into Devon’s economy by 2030, according to the company’s 2023 Connecting Devon Report. 

She expressed confidence that the collaborative approach seen in Cornwall, where Wildanet has successfully boosted connectivity, could serve as a model for Devon.

She said: “We were able to showcase the work already under way and discuss how we, as an Alternative Network Provider (Altnet), have successfully collaborated with communities, local and national government, to overcome connectivity challenges in Cornwall.

“We look forward to building a similar partnership in Devon to fast-track solutions for the county’s poor broadband coverage.”

Wildanet added: “Ian Roome, who was elected MP for North Devon in the July 2024 General Election, brings a wealth of experience in telecommunications from his service in the Royal Air Force. His background provides a valuable perspective on the need for enhanced connectivity in rural areas.”