networks.coop started life in the early years of the 21st century as the Community Broadband Network (CBN).
When CBN was launched in January 2004 by the then Rural Affairs Minister Alun Michael and Broadband Minister Stephen Timms, first generation broadband was being deployed in the UK, and many communities – particularly rural and deprived urban areas – were being left behind. CBN worked to support communities that were interested in developing and running their own networks. These – mostly social enterprise and community-owned projects at that point – played a crucial role in bringing broadband to all parts of the UK, a fact recognised by Lord Carter in his Digital Britain Report.
Lord Carter supported CBN's proposals to create INCA – a new association of independent networks. Following the launch of INCA, CBN continued as a cooperative consultancy offering advice and support on digital infrastructure as a tool for transformation.
Over that history CBN supported over 100 community-led projects, and has advised many of the UK's major cities on the strategic use of digital infrastructure for economic development.
Our role has changed significantly over the years, and in recognition of that, and the realisation that our work has evolved well beyond fibre networks and broadband, to embrace the growing interest in heat networks, renewable energy, data centres, and the complex relationships between these entities, it was clear that CBN was no longer appropriate as a name for the organisation. So over the last year or so we have been transitioning to become networks.coop – an identity that better reflects our wider focus and expertise.