Cables for high-speed broadband are set to be run through water pipes to connect hard-to-reach homes, ministers have revealed.
They are looking at a project called Fibre in Water to speed up the expansion of 'lightening-fast broadband' and mobile coverage in rural areas. Innovators are being offered £4million to test the method, which is hoped could be a quicker way to get fibre-optic cables into homes, businesses and mobile masts.
The plan for gigabit-capable broadband has the benefit of avoiding the disruption of digging up roads and land for cables. Digital infrastructure minister Matt Warman said: 'The cost of digging up roads and land is the biggest obstacle telecoms companies face when connecting hard to reach areas to better broadband. But beneath our feet there is a vast network of pipes reaching virtually every building in the country. So we are calling on Britain's brilliant innovators to help us use this infrastructure to serve a dual purpose of serving up not just fresh, clean water but also lightening-fast digital connectivity.'
In addition, the project will look at trying to reduce the amount of water lost to leaks, currently about 20 per cent of what goes into the public supply.
Sensors will be put into the pipes, enabling water companies to deal more rapidly and accurately with leaks. The Government is already looking at helping the push for 'next generation broadband' by letting telecoms companies access one million plus miles of underground utility ducts, such as electricity, gas and sewer networks.
