News / SIC looks to expand high speed broadband
SHETLAND Islands Council is being asked to look into creating a superfast broadband network that will help the islands match communications in large cities.
On Thursday the SIC’s development committee will be asked to set up a project team looking into rolling out high speed broadband throughout the rural areas of Shetland, including some of the most remote locations in the UK.
The move follows the council’s groundbreaking plan to connect to the Faroese fibre optic cable that cross the isles before reaching the Scottish mainland, on which work commenced last week.
The Shetland Telecom fibre optic link will create a two speed service, connecting Lerwick and Scalloway, but leaving the rest of the islands relying on the existing BT wireless link that has suffered so many problems in recent months.
High speed communications are becoming increasingly important in the modern economy and the council has long wanted to improve its connections to underpin both local businesses and public services.
SIC telecoms manager Marvin Smith says that demand for broadband speeds doubles every 18 months and by 2020 Shetland will expect 1,000 megabits per second (mbps).
Currently rural council departments and schools are connected through the Cable & Wireless Pathfinder network, but that contract ends in 2014, when demand will have already reached 100mbps.
Using BT to replace the government funded Pathfinder network would cost an estimated £4.75 million.
Mr Smith will invite councillors to examine the possibility of the council extending its own fibre optic network with wireless connections to small islands, such as Fetlar that already enjoys a 10mbps pilot connection.
There are 12 business parks and 10 doctors surgeries that could be connected along with police and fire stations.
Providing high speed broadband to these areas could create possibilities for local communities to connect to the council cable.
The project team, if agreed, will be given three months to report back on its findings, which will include producing a specification, design a network by March 2011, investigate public funding and 1gbps wireless connectivity to the remote parts of the islands.
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