UK water supplier Yorkshire Water and its partners have been awarded a £1.2 million government grant to initiate research and development of fibers in water in the UK. The utility will work with engineering firm Arcadis and researchers at the University of Strathclyde to carry out the research to determine whether its water mains network can carry fibre optic cables. If successful, this project is expected to provide a solution to the challenge of bringing fiber optic broadband to hard-to-reach areas.
Another benefit is that the cable could help Yorkshire Water detect cracks and leaks in its pipes, so they can be repaired more quickly, resulting in less water use. The funding was allocated under the government's Fiber in Water public competition, which was launched last year and allocated up to £4 million of research and development funding to develop and build pilot projects to facilitate connecting the UK's hardest-to-reach areas with advanced fixed and mobile telecommunications services and reduce leaks in drinking water pipes.
Yorkshire Water's initial plan is to place fiber optic cables into "messenger pipes". These pipes will protect the cables and ensure that they do not come into contact with water. The water company is conducting a survey in South Yorkshire to plan the pilot, which will be the first of its kind in the UK. If the scheme passes the initial investigation stage, the fibre-optic cables will be laid within 17 kilometers of Yorkshire Water's site between Barnsley and Penistone in South Yorkshire.
Speaking about the funding, Yorkshire Water's innovation project manager said, "We are delighted that the government is supporting the development of fibre in water solutions that reduce the environmental impact and disruption that can be caused on a day-to-day basis." Prompted by the activities of water and telecoms companies. Fiber-in-water technology has made great strides in recent years, and this project will now allow us to realize its full potential to help improve broadband access in hard-to-reach areas and further reduce leakage from our networks.
Digging up roads and land is one of the biggest barriers to rolling out faster broadband, so we are investing in exploring ways to use existing water networks to accelerate deployment and also help detect and prevent leaks," said the UK's Minister for Digital Infrastructure. We are committed to breaking down the barriers to better broadband and this groundbreaking project is an exciting example of the bold steps the government is taking to enhance communities through top-tier digital connectivity.
