16.01.04
actnow's pioneering light shines out across the UK - major broadband conference in Cornwall attracts leaders from all over the country

Leaders of public and private sector organisations throughout the UK have signed up for a major broadband conference next month, organised by Cornwall's pioneering project actnow.

Up to 150 delegates, from as far afield as Scotland and Wales, will attend The Broadband Edge Conference at the Eden Project on Thursday February 5. The following day, delegates will have the opportunity to visit the actnow headquarters at Tolvaddon near Camborne and local businesses which have benefited from the project.

It is believed to be the most prestigious technology event ever held in the South West. The speakers will include Stephen Timms, Minister of State for Energy, E-Commerce and Postal Services, and Pierre Danon, chief executive officer for BT Retail.

Presentations and interactive workshops will discuss the huge benefits of high speed broadband, partnership working, marketing, funding and finances and the impact the technology is having on businesses and communities.

One of the highlights of the conference will be a gala dinner at Eden and a live satellite link-up with yachtswoman Ellen MacArthur, who will speak to delegates from her trimaran off the New Zealand coast.

The link-up is sponsored by her sponsor BT Yahoo! Broadband.

Further information about The Broadband Edge Conference is available at www.broadbandedge.co.uk

The actnow broadband partnership - comprising the Objective One Partnership Office, Cornwall Enterprise, BT, the South West of England Regional Development Agency, Cornwall County Council, Business Link Devon & Cornwall and Cornwall College - is on course to far exceed all its targets since being launched in April 2002.

It is estimated that 1,200 jobs have been created and that Cornwall's gross domestic product has benefited by more than £20 million.

Take up of broadband by small and medium businesses in Cornwall is estimated to be the best of any rural area in the country. Almost one in four small and medium businesses in the first 13 Cornish communities to benefit from broadband have signed up for the high speed internet service. Now 28 Cornish communities have broadband access and nearly 3,000 Cornish businesses and more than 10,000 households are using broadband.

The £12.5 million project has been widely recognised. It was awarded Regional Partnership Category Champion at the recent Broadband Britain Challenge and has been identified by Best eEurope Practices (BEEP), a multinational European project, as "a good practice" case study of information and communications technology playing a key role in regional development.

Stephen Timms said: "The Broadband Edge conference is an excellent opportunity to share knowledge and practice in delivering effective broadband partnerships across the country. It is very appropriate that this important event should be organised and hosted by actnow, a great public and private sector partnership success story. It has sent a signal around the UK and beyond about what can be achieved when we all work together with a common purpose."

Nigel Ashcroft, actnow project director, said: "The continuing development of broadband in Cornwall is a tremendous success. The original targets we put in place were extremely challenging and yet these will be far exceeded. The future looks really exciting. Cornwall is re-inventing itself as a vibrant new business hotspot, leading the way in the use of technology to overcome our peripheral location. The Broadband Edge conference will allow us to share our knowledge and experiences with other parts of the country.

"Decision makers throughout the UK, such as chief executives of local authorities and leaders of organisations involved in economic development, have already signed up for the conference."

Pierre Danon, of BT, said: "The Broadband Edge Conference will help to show the tremendous opportunities for businesses and communities offered by broadband technology and by partnerships. BT has put broadband at the heart of its strategy - and with very good reason. In the years ahead, the technology will have a huge and growing influence on the way we all live and work. It will play a vital role in the future competitiveness of the UK. Since the launch of actnow, broadband partnerships have been established in many other parts of the country and these, too, are progressing well."

Editor's notes:

A limited number of places for journalists are available at the conference. If you wish to send a representative, please contact Jason Mann, of BT, on 0845 7262624.

The actnow programme is a demand-led initiative to encourage businesses in Cornwall to gain the support they need to move into the new broadband economy. Including about £5.25 million from Objective One, it is one of the largest private and public sector partnerships in Cornwall since Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly were granted Objective One status by the European Union in 2000.

Broadband operates at much higher speeds than a standard internet connection with consumer products typically 10 times faster and business products up to 40 times faster. Products can be ordered from a range of service providers.

For more information contact Emma Lydon of actnow on 01209 722850 or Jason Mann of BT on 0845 7262624.

Jason Clark
Communications Adviser
Objective One Partnership Office
Castle House
Pydar Street
Truro TR1 2UD
Tel: 01872 241379
Fax: 01872 241388
objectiveone@cornwall.gov.uk

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