Super fast broadband Stornoway

High-speed fibre broadband is live in Stornoway it has been formally announced.

Around 3,600 premises in Stornoway will be the first to have access to the new services thanks to the Digital Scotland Superfast Broadband project.

The aim is to reach at least 70% of premises across the islands.

Customers connected to the network through the first 11 live street cabinets across the town and at Tong can order now, or very soon, as services become available through internet service providers.

When connected they could have direct access to download speeds of up to 80mbps.

In addition to the local connections, the core network links to the mainland open up game changing capacity for access to previously unavailable business services.

It’s the first step in a £146m region wide roll-out which will see the majority of premises across the Outer Hebrides better connected by the end of 2016.

The project is being led in the region by Highlands and Islands Enterprise (HIE), with work on the ground being carried out by Openreach, the local network division of private sector partners BT. Funding is coming from the Scottish Government and the UK Government as well as HIE and BT.

Deputy First Minister, John Swinney, commented: “This is a momentous day and a huge first step in transforming the future of connectivity for communities and businesses across the Outer Hebrides.

"This investment is designed to reach Scotland’s remoter communities, none of which would have seen these kinds of connections through the commercial market. It marks more positive progress thanks to the Digital Scotland Superfast Broadband Programme.

“Every week we make strong progress with around 7,000 new premises having fibre made available to them. Thanks to this, and together with commercial work, we are creating an infrastructure which will see us fulfil the Scottish Government’s commitment to deliver world class connectivity in Scotland by 2020, ensuring we are a world class digital nation.”

Digital Economy Minister Ed Vaizey said: "This is brilliant news for homes and businesses on the Outer Hebrides who can now, for the first time, access superfast speeds. The UK Government is investing £120m in Scotland as part of its transformation of the UK's digital landscape that will see 95% of the nation have access to superfast speeds by 2017."

Super fast broadband goes live in Stornoway

7 July 2015