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Alternative rural broadband ISP Wildanet, which is building a new 2Gbps speed full fibre (FTTP) network across rural parts of South West England (Devon and Cornwall), has today announced that they’ve upgraded their service to deliver symmetric speeds (i.e. the same speeds for both downloads and uploads).
Just to be clear. Wildanet appear to be introducing this as a premium service feature, rather than an upgrade at no extra cost like some of their rivals. For example, the provider’s 200Mbps (download) package with a 40Mbps upload speed still costs £27 per month on a 24-month minimum term with free setup and a bundled router, but if you want this at symmetric speeds then it’ll cost £31 per month (an extra +£4).
The arrival of symmetrical speeds at up to 2Gbps represents a further evolution in Wildanet’s network and has been enabled by the company’s use of more modern XGS-PON full fibre technology.
Simon Hughes, Wildanet CCO, said:
“Digital connectivity is now fundamental infrastructure for both communities and the economy. Cornwall and Devon have huge strengths in innovation, creativity and emerging industries but if the county is to realise its full potential it needs digital capability on a par with anywhere else in the UK. Symmetrical connectivity helps support the way people increasingly live and work, whether that’s running a business, collaborating remotely, studying online or managing a busy connected household.
The launch of Cornwall Connected highlights just how important digital infrastructure has become to Cornwall’s future. Reliable, high-capacity connectivity is essential for creating opportunity, attracting investment and supporting the next generation of innovation and growth. We’re proud to be playing our part in helping deliver that future.”
So far the provider claims their full-fibre rollout has already seen more than 50,000 connections enabled across the region, through a combination of private investment and publicly funded initiatives.