Wessex Internet has connected its first customer in South Wiltshire as part of an £18.8 million contract awarded by Project Gigabit, bringing faster broadband to around 14,500 residents across the region.
CityFibre’s £25m investment into Adur and Worthings’s digital infrastructure may unlock over £357m in economic benefits, according to a report by Hatch.
The study estimates that over a fifteen-year period, Ardur and Worthing will see £197m in productivity and innovation gains, £43m from a widened workforce and £178m in increased housing value.
Technological benefits include £470m in gross added value (GVA) from 5G services, £125m from the Internet of Things and £83m from Smart City initiatives.
Area Manager Adrian Smith said: “The network rollout will help West Sussex realise its full potential, encouraging growth while providing a solid platform for innovation and investment.”
Cllr Steve Neocleous, Adur District Council’s Cabinet Member for Regeneration and Strategic Planning, added: “Ultrafast broadband is essential for a 21st Century economy, both in the workplace and at home.
“This investment in our infrastructure will pay dividends for many years to come as we continue to make Adur even more digitally connected.”