Scottish businesses to enjoy broadband boost

A recent announcement from Openreach Scotland has revealed that some of the quickest and most dependable broadband in the UK will be installed on the island of Lismore in the Inner Hebrides.

The upcoming installation project is part of a major digital upgrade via the Scottish Government’s R100 (Reaching 100%) programme, which represents a £600m investment in improved communications infrastructure.

The once-in-a-generation upgrade to full fibre broadband will now allow islanders to connect multiple devices at ultrafast speeds to the internet, and help companies in Lismore take full advantage of online markets and services.

However, in a diversion from its standard operating procedure, the R100 delivery partner telecoms company Openreach is asking islanders to highlight their demand for faster broadband as early as they can to assist with delivering the full-fibre network to Lismore. Local businesses and residents alike can register their interest in Ultrafast Full Fibre Broadband online and select to be updated when it becomes available.

Scotland’s Minister of Innovation, Richard Lochhead, commented on the lifechanging service soon to be rolled out:

“Future-proofed digital connectivity is vital for our island communities, and through the Scottish Government’s R100 contracts we’re extending full fibre broadband access to some of the most challenging locations in Scotland.”

However, connecting the islands presents substantial logistic challenges which will includes months of work, expert fibre engineers and the laying of subsea cables. After the installation is complete, Openreach Scotland plan to complete the same process on other islands, including Mull and Colonsay.