PRESS

Testing starts on Connected Communities Broadband Network

1 April 2005

The Connected Communities Broadband Network has started the first phase of testing with equipment installed at community nodes from Stornoway up to Tolsta and across to the Eye Peninsula. Laxdale, Stornoway Primary, Back, Tong, Tolsta, Sandwickhill, Aird and Knock Schools now have high speed broadband connections linking through a central hub in Stornoway and the Council Headquarters. A number of Health Centres including Broadbay and Springfield have also been connected. Other locations in the central Lewis area will be connected in the next couple of weeks. Following that community nodes to connect business and residential users into this high speed network will be installed allowing more extensive testing to start over April and May. Connections down the island chain are also in progress with equipment flown to hilltops in Harris by helicopter and equipment delivered to Uist in advance of the build programme progressing down the island chain. The backbone connections all the way to Rodel are to be established in the next few weeks.

Tendering for services, including maintenance, is in progress, with local businesses taking the opportunity to bid for contracts. Tendering of an ISP contract will be taking place shortly and first services to allow subscribers to connect to the internet should be in place by mid 2005. Pricing of services will be undertaken by the ISPs tendering and announced after appointment.

In line with Scottish Executive targets, the network is required to be in place and fully operational by December 2005. However, it is expected that the vast majority of users will be connected by the end of September 2005. The £5.2M Connected Communities Wireless Broadband Network is funded by the Scottish Executive, Highlands and Islands Enterprise, Comhairle nan Eilean Siar and the Highlands and Islands Special Transitional Program.

Donnie Morrison
Project Manager
Connected Communities
donnie@connectedcommunities.co.uk
Tel 01851 703703

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