Airband’s full fibre broadband delivery for CDS scaled back

Posted on 31 October 2024

Connecting Devon and Somerset (CDS) and Airband have announced that they have agreed to scale back Airband's contract agreements to deliver full fibre to properties in the region.

Both CDS and Airband remain committed to finding possible alternative delivery solutions for those communities who were due to receive fibre broadband.

CDS contracted with broadband supplier Airband, initially in 2016 to deliver fixed wireless infrastructure and additionally in late 2020 to rollout fibre broadband networks to communities across Devon and Somerset, with four contracts originally due to conclude at the end of 2024.

In total, Airband is contracted to deliver 55,493 premises. To date the operator has delivered 18,794 premises in collaboration with CDS.

However, following Airband's restructure earlier this year, the company is seeking to maximise take up across its existing network while slowing down on build activity which means it can no longer complete its contracted build for CDS in full. As a result, in April, Airband sought a change to its contract.

Detailed discussions have now concluded between CDS, Airband and Building Digital UK (BDUK) to resolve the situation and Airband has now committed to provide full fibre access to 8,377 more homes and businesses covered by the contracts, providing a total of 27,171 out of the 55,493 premises it was originally contracted to deliver. This additional build will further unlock fibre delivery by Airband to 10,997 non-contracted premises along the network build routes, giving an overall commitment to connect a further 19,834 premises in Devon and Somerset.

CDS is extremely disappointed to see a reduction in coverage by Airband but both parties are committed to continue working together to deliver better connectivity across the region. The next stage will be to finalise the relevant build plans and secure compliance approvals from BDUK.

CDS is also discussing alternative options with BDUK, the Government's national agency, responsible for the delivery of Gigabit Broadband.

CDS is urging BDUK to re-enable rural voucher applications to open promptly in communities where Airband will no longer be delivering. This should offer communities a potential alternative. At the same time CDS is seeking confirmation of the Devon and Somerset premises that will be connected under the nationally led contracts awarded to Openreach as part of the Government's Project Gigabit programme.

Councillor Mike Rigby, CDS Board Member and Somerset Council Lead Member for Planning, Economic Development and Assets said: "Naturally we're disappointed that many local residents who should have been receiving access to fibre broadband will no longer benefit from these contracts. There's no escaping the fact these are not easy times for the industry as many alternative network providers have slowed their build. If it was easy and profitable to build fibre broadband networks in rural areas, it would have done commercially by now. But it's challenging.

"When it became apparent that Airband would have to scale back its build for CDS, following the company's restructure, our teams have worked behind the scenes to come to an agreement with Airband over what could still be delivered. That has ensured that nearly 8,400 homes and businesses will still be provided with access to full fibre, but for those not included in Airband's ongoing delivery, CDS will do everything it can to help communities get a connection as we know how vital it is for rural communities to have decent broadband.

"We want to work with BDUK and the new government to help provide alternative solutions to deliver to hard-to-reach areas that are now not going to be delivered through this contract with Airband."

Kash Rahman, MD at Airband, said: "We've had to make tough decisions on our build activity this year and we are sorry if this news comes as a disappointment to residents who are left waiting for better connectivity. We have come to an agreement with CDS and will continue building the fibre network, albeit scaled back from the original contracted number. The region is an important part of our network, we have worked hard to deliver against engineering challenges, and we will continue to deliver better broadband for people who need it. I'm really proud of the team for the work done to date."

The CDS contract with Wessex Internet covering South Somerset remains in place and to date has connected 3,006 homes with a further 302 homes going live by December 2024. The contract is on track to completed in June 2025.

To date, investment from CDS has provided better broadband access to more than 325,000 homes and businesses - that's more than any other broadband programme/partnership in the country. Superfast coverage in Devon and Somerset currently stands at around 93% of premises (thinkbroadband.com). That's above the 86% average for UK rural areas. Public take up of CDS-funded broadband connections is also above the national average.

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