Western Isles First broadband sub-sea cables

First sub-sea cables installed for Western Isles broadband upgrade 25/7/14

New fibre broadband cables have been laid on the seabed between Barra and Eriskay in the start of a major project to improve internet and digital links for the Western Isles and the rest of the Highlands and Islands.

Upgrading the Hebrides’ broadband links will see a series of underwater fibre optic cables being laid under sea crossings through the islands plus seabed connections to the mainland.

Orange Marine’s cable ship René Descartes has been chartered to undertake the work. Support vessels carrying out work include the MCS Ailsa and the Coastal Chariot.

The cabling forms part of a North of Scotland £146 million fibre broadband scheme led by HIE.

It aims to have around 84 per cent of Highlands and Islands homes and businesses getting access to fibre broadband by the end of 2016.

BT, the selected private sector partner who is rolling out the open access fibre network, is investing £19 million in the area.

As it progresses, the subsea project aims to deliver around 400kms of cables to link island communities including the Western Isles.

Deputy First Minister Nicola Sturgeon said: “It’s fantastic news that this network will open up the benefits of high quality digital connectivity to our island communities, making them more economically viable in the long term.

“This is one of the most ambitious broadband infrastructure projects ever to have been undertaken and will see 95 per cent of premises in Scotland covered by 2017/18. The scale of the challenge of delivering fibre broadband into rural Scotland outstrips any other part of the UK and indeed, much of Europe.

“This is an important step towards ensuring that Scotland has world-class digital connectivity by 2020. Our investment, and that of our partners in the project, will extend access to superfast broadband across Scotland. This will be a key factor in ensuring Scotland’s long-term economic prosperity.”

Stuart Robertson, HIE’s Director of Digital Highlands and Islands, said: “Thousands of homes and businesses in island communities will benefit from the huge public investment being made to roll out fibre based broadband across the Highlands and Islands. Its introduction will change how people can use technology and access the internet, opening up new ways of living, learning and working.

“The current three year project is made up of two parts – the first to create the fibre network which will bring better services closer to all, the second part is to bring broadband to as many homes and businesses as the current technology and budget will allow. The creation of this hugely ambitious land and subsea network is vital in reaching communities which could never have hoped to receive fibre broadband as part of commercial roll-out.”

Brendan Dick, director, BT Scotland, said: “It’s a massive test of engineering ingenuity, so we are keeping everything crossed for stable weather and a fair wind to allow sure and steadfast progress.

“It’s also an exciting time, not only for BT and its partners, but also for island residents and the businesses they run. I look forward with anticipation to people in the Islands reaping the benefits of their very own network of underwater, fibre optic cables.”