News / Award for connecting isles
SHETLAND Islands Council’s ICT team have received a national award for creating a new network system in the isles.
The service won a prize at the Holyrood Connect Awards in Glasgow as a result of their work in replacing the Pathfinder system, which provided the network connection to SIC properties outside of Lerwick.
The team turned off the service in 2014 and replaced it with a more cost-effective network that involves fibre and satellite technology, as well as commercial masts.
It links around 60 sites in total across the length and breadth of Shetland. Executive manager Susan Msalila said that the new network, which cost £400,000 to implement, was delivered within budget and on time.
Paying tribute to the achievement, council leader Gary Robinson said: “Our ICT service was faced with an enormous task to find a viable replacement for Pathfinder, and they’ve come up with a system which uses existing IT infrastructure and is flexible enough to take advantage of any new developments in the future.
“This project saved the council well over a million pounds and I’d like to congratulate them on winning this award.”
Become a supporter of Shetland News
Shetland News is asking its many readers to consider start paying for their dose of the latest local news delivered straight to their PC, tablet or mobile phone.
Journalism comes at a price and because that price is not being paid in today’s rapidly changing media world, most publishers - national and local - struggle financially despite very healthy audience figures.
Most online publishers have started charging for access to their websites, others have chosen a different route. Shetland News currently has over 600 supporters who are all making small voluntary financial contributions. All funds go towards covering our cost and improving the service further.
Your contribution will ensure Shetland News can: -
- Bring you the headlines as they happen;
- Stay editorially independent;
- Give a voice to the community;
- Grow site traffic further;
- Research and publish more in-depth news, including more Shetland Lives features.
If you appreciate what we do and feel strongly about impartial local journalism, then please become a supporter of Shetland News by either making a single payment or monthly subscription.
Support us from as little as £3 per month – it only takes a minute to sign up. Thank you.
Already a supporter? Sign in to hide this message.
