Papa Stour to become testbed for new satellite communication
THE UK Space Agency is making up to £1 million of funding available to improve digital connectivity in one of Shetland’s smallest island communities.
A new project, announced by the UK Government today (Wednesday), seeks to test a hybrid satellite-wireless solution using low earth orbit (LEO) and geostationary orbit (GEO) user terminals to boost connectivity on Papa Stour.
It is set to build on an exisiting project that got under way last year and provides a satellite link to one property. The follow-up project aims to find a way of connecting all the properties on the island.
However, broadband connection on the island, which has a permanent population of about 10 residents, is being described as “generally poor”.
The investment by the UK Space Agency, the UK Government as well as the European Space Agency will help close the digital divide, a government statement said.
Testing the hybrid network in Papa Stour could help other remote locations unable to connect to traditional networks, the statement added.
Local councillor Liz Peterson said: “As one of our most remote and fragile communities, Papa Stour, will directly benefit through the people who live here being able to have a better connection to the wider world.
“This will also enable people living in Papa Stour to develop better opportunities to work remotely and we hope this will encourage new families to consider moving here.”
The council’s Shetland Telecom manager Marvin Smith told Shetland News: “The money is not just for the actual equipment; it is to entice providers to use Papa Stour as an exemplar for potential solutions across other difficult to reach areas.
“The government is looking for solutions that are not necessarily available commercially at the moment and are therefore expensive.”
Secretary of State for Scotland Ian Murray added: “We know connectivity is one of the biggest challenges faced by Scotland’s island communities and I am pleased the UK Government, through the UK Space Agency, is working to address this and improve people’s lives.
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“This project on Papa Stour, which will test a hybrid satellite-wireless solution for the residents, is a vital research project which could be used as a blueprint in the future for our many island and other very hard to reach communities in Scotland.”
A funding call by the department for science, innovation and technology seeks partners for a total of three projects to test satellite technology, including the Papa Stour pilot.
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