Fast broadband will run through water pipes in parts of South
Yorkshire as part of plans to get better internet access to
people quicker.
New proposals to accelerate the rollout of broadband without
digging up roads would see fibre-optic cables deployed through 17
kilometres of live drinking water mains between Barnsley and
Penistone in the government technology trial.
Broadband companies could then tap into the network to deliver
gigabit-capable connections to an estimated 8,500 homes and
businesses along the route, helping to level up hard-to-reach
communities.
Civil works, in particular installing new ducts and poles, can
make up as much as four fifths of the costs to industry of
building new gigabit-capable broadband networks. The Fibre in
Water scheme will demonstrate what could be a greener, quicker
and more cost-effective way of connecting fibre optic cables to
homes, businesses and mobile masts, without the disruption caused
by digging up roads and land.
The network will also be used to set up 5G masts to bring fast
and reliable wireless broadband to hard-to-reach communities
where wired solutions are too expensive to deliver commercially.
The first trial of its kind in the UK, it will also explore how
fibre can help the water industry detect leaks, operate more
efficiently and lower the carbon cost of drinking water.
The trials will last for up to two years and, if successful, the
technology could be operational in networks from 2024 onwards.
Digital Infrastructure Minister said:
“ Digging up roads and land is one of the biggest obstacles to
rolling out faster broadband, so we’re exploring how we can make
use of the existing water network to accelerate deployment and
help detect and minimise water leaks.
“ We’re committed to getting homes and businesses across the
country connected to better broadband and this cutting-edge
project is an exciting example of the bold measures this
government is leading on to level up communities with the very
best digital connectivity.”
The first phase of the project launching today will focus on the
legal and safety aspects of this innovative solution, and ensure
that combining clean water and telecoms services in a single
pipeline is safe, secure and commercially viable before any
technology is actually installed.
If successful, the project could be replicated in other parts of
the country and could turbocharge the government’s £5 billion
Project Gigabit - the biggest broadband roll out in British
history funding top-of-the-range gigabit connections for millions
of rural homes and businesses that would otherwise be left out of
commercial deployment due to the higher costs of connection.
Yorkshire and Lincolnshire have more than 300,000 rural homes and
businesses in line for an upgrade, including 56,800 premises in
South Yorkshire.
Gigabit-capable broadband coverage has rocketed in the UK from
less than 6 per cent in 2019 to more than 66 per cent following
government measures to stimulate commercial investment from
broadband companies and bust barriers to roll out. In the UK 20
per cent of water put into public supply is wasted due to leaks
every day. With current technology, it can be difficult for water
companies to quickly identify the exact location of a leak and
carry out a repair.
This project, delivered by Yorkshire Water working with Arcadis
and University of Strathclyde will test solutions that reduce
water leaks by putting fibre sensors in the pipes which allow
water companies to improve the speed and accuracy with which they
can identify a leak and repair it, often before it causes a
problem for consumers. Water companies have committed to
delivering a 50% reduction in leakage, and this project could
help to reach that goal.
The technology being deployed during the trials has been approved
by the Drinking Water Inspectorate (DWI). The DWI requires
rigorous testing ahead of approving any products and the
processes that introduce them into drinking water pipes, and
fibre has already been deployed in water pipes in other countries
such as Spain.
Sam Bright, Innovation Programme Manager at Yorkshire Water said:
“ We are very pleased that the Government is supporting the
development of the Fibre in Water solution which can reduce the
environmental impact and day-to-day disruptions that can be
caused by both water and telecoms companies’ activities.
“ The technology for fibre in water has significantly progressed
in recent years and this project will now enable us to fully
develop its potential to help improve access to better broadband
in hard-to-reach areas and further reduce leakage on our
networks.”
ENDSNotes to editors
- The government has allocated £1.2 million to the winning
consortium to proceed with the design stage of the project. The
remaining £2 million funds will be granted once this stage has
been reviewed.
- It comes from HM Treasury’s Shared Outcomes Fund which is
used to fund pilot projects to test innovative ways of working
across the public sector.
- The project is led by Yorkshire Water, with Arcadis and
University of Strathclyde. Additional partners will be announced
shortly.
