The Future
Over the period 2002-2007, the Objective One actnow project helped more than 10,000 businesses to make the most of broadband. Today’s Cornish businesses are working in a way that would have been inconceivable back in 2002 – selling goods and services to a worldwide market; using ICT to work flexibly and increase productivity. In fact, over 80% of businesses in Cornwall say that the Internet is now critical to their business…..
So what do the next 10 years have in store?
Just as it would have been impossible to predict today’s business dependence on broadband, it is impossible to know exactly where the future will lead us. New technological innovations will spark others, transforming the business landscape in ways we cannot currently imagine. But one thing is certain: Technological change will continue to accelerate and this will bring new opportunities and challenges for businesses.
In Cornwall, the economic strategic frameworks recognise the vital importance of ICT over the years ahead.
The Convergence Programme (2007-2013) puts the digital infrastructure of Cornwall at the heart of the programme.
Cornwall’s economic strategy ‘Strategy and Action 2007 – 2021’ also acknowledges that ICT is critical if Cornwall is to transform into a high value knowledge economy (Click here to download a pdf of the strategy document), and take a look at the section on 'Transformation into an Information Society for All', page 39.
Cornwall Council are leading on the process of identifying a private sector investor to to take Cornwall to the next level of broadband connectivity, placing Cornwall at the cutting edge of broadband infrastructure and opening a new world of opportunity. The next level of broadband infrastructure is often referred to as ‘Next Generation Access'.
