In a groundbreaking report released by Curia, the UK’s pioneering ‘do tank’, the transformative power of full-fibre broadband on the Isle of Wight’s future has been unveiled. It’s said that by 2030 – just 6 years time – this digital revolution will ignite the local economy by generating £328million in new business and preserving £73million in existing ventures. Full-fibre will also create a thriving job market with 1,800 new roles and the protection of 450 current positions, as well as driving public sector innovation with over £2million in savings. As of December 2023, the Isle of Wight boasts a 77% full-fibre broadband coverage, eclipsing the national average of 60% and setting a new standard for rural connectivity. With service available to nearly 70,000 homes and businesses, and a target of 82,000 by 2027, WightFibre, alongside BT Openreach’s commitment, is propelling the Island into a new era of digital excellence. The report meticulously calculates the tangible benefits of this technological leap:
- An annual increase of £86million in new business GVA by 2030.
- Approximately £2million in public sector network savings by the same year.
- Potential savings of over £3.5million annually in public sector operations, starting in 2024, with the integration of remote digital healthcare plans.
- A colossal £110million local investment by WightFibre by 2030, solidifying its status as the island’s leading broadband provider.
- A substantial social impact, including digital inclusion and upskilling, valued at £50.2million by 2030.
- Over £62.6million in carbon taxation savings by 2030, with more than £12million saved annually from that point forward.
John Irvine, CEO of WightFibre, reflects on the company’s mission:
“WightFibre’s company purpose is about more than just providing broadband, it’s about helping make the Isle of Wight a better place to live, work and play. This report shows how WightFibre is delivering on that aim, leading the way on the delivery of full-fibre broadband across the Island”.
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The full report is available at https://www.wightfibre.com/wightfibre-curia-report-2024/.
As we are told there is nothing we can do about Wightfibre causing untold delays, ruining roads and footpaths, along with rude staff both in the office and on site digging holes, I think I’ll pass on letting them now dig up and ruin my resin drive….
They are welcome to dig up my resin drive as it is crap, hence the owner of the company now doing 3 years in HMP. Luckily Wightfibre installed my Fibre Broadband via the telegraph poles. I’m am getting 328mbps so no complaints there.
Luckily my resin drive is spot on and very happy with it.
Just didn’t want Wightfibre terms and conditions that say ” fully re-instate any surface that is disrupted as part of this work, should we cause any.”
From the ‘issed tarmac they have covered the island with, I don’t think the outcome would be good.
Nope, been with BT for 15 years with no issues, no holes in my drive and no holes in my house walls…
It will mean less jobs going forward
We live in sandown main area and wightfibre couldn’t even install into our house, apparently to many customers using there local white connection box at the top of our road, so they couldnt get the cables through….told us to wait 2 months plus without internet! we now have sky..seems they have promised the government to get millions in grants,that the whole island would be on fibre optic broadband and cannot keep to it… (Why have they put connection gateways outside every property digging up roads unnecessarily if they can’t get supply to them??? Seems a big scam.
Installs are done by shoddy weed smoking teens
I won’t ever use them, thanks for the hole in the front wall of our house! Should of made sure connection possible first?
Yeah this clearly never happened. I’m sure you were to high to even place an order.
Most of the teens are super hard working and part of apprenticeship programs. Maybe if you had a job you might understand.
It has happened!!! Obviously you were there at the time. Perhaps ask one of your loved ones why they drill the house first before rodding the connection?!?!? Yeah must of been too high to even consider wightfibre!!!! They are a joke tbh just look at there super hard working teens-your words lol ….compared to say a sky/BT engineer…enough said!
Curia, claiming to be independent but co-incidentally right next door to Tory HQ in London.
Believe them at your peril, especially if John Irvine endorses them.
Well done to wight fibre been with them 20 plus years now, brilliant company and service.
Congratulations you’re the second person that I have heard that has had WightFibre installed.
Really ? where you been last 20 year’s then …ohh i know wroooxxxallll.
What a load of clap-trap, where I live, in March 2022 we were notified that the road was going to be closed for six weeks to enable utilities to be laid in the area, nothing happened. In Mach 2024 we were again told that the road was again was going to be closed for six weeks to enable utilities to be laid, nothing happened and no explanation. If ever fibre does become available they can poke it where the sun doesn’t shine, like others in the area we have made other arrangements!
I’m sure you will be a great loss to them lol
According to the map,I live in an area with 67-84%coverage. However I don’t have gigabit Internet. I’d say it’s all bollox!
Not sure I fully understand the costings and saving quoted. Have they included lost revenue and man hours due to road works, temp traffic lights, road closures, diversions, extra carbon foot print from diverted traffic. Also not convinced the demographic on the Island warrants need for super fast anything. Is it really going to make me buy things faster, book a ferry quicker, how is it improving our lives? I have Sky for Internet and it works just fine, but appreciate not everyone wants to go that route. Just all seems a bit too good to be true. Also anything using the words approximately and potential is not a meticulous piece of accounting, so guesswork…
It’s said that by 2030 – just 6 years time – this digital revolution will ignite the local economy by generating £328million in new business and preserving £73million in existing ventures.
what an utter load of tripe – everyone already has fast internet access – altering the way in which people access it, isn’t going to change anything.
Depends what you mean by fast. 50mbps?
50mbps may be good for gaming or watching TV but…
If you work remotely and need to access several virtual machines through a secure VPN*, download some datasets or verify large backups while on the Zoom call with an HD or 4K camera running, and your wife is in a similar professional job as well – then 900mbps is an enabler.
Many professionals will seek higher rates than your usual speed that’s enough to watch Netflix. And there’s plenty of us working from home.
*Secure VPN with a hop in Switzerland is speed divided by 10. 40mbps would leave me with 4mbps, 900mbps gives me 90mbps.
Ye crap look at bexshit ..that worked out well for us all..
The negative comments just shows how many uneducated dinosaurs congregate around here LOL
the negative commenters will be proven right – check back in 2030 and we will see.
I can’t Putin would have nuked us
What’s a Digitial Revolution?