Thursday 28 March 2024
 6.9°C   ENE Moderate Breeze
Ocean Kinetics - The Engineering Experts

News / News on North Isles broadband bid soon

Unst. Photo: Shetland News

COUNCIL officials expect to hear next week if a second bid for £2 million of UK Government funding to roll out fibre broadband in the North Isles is successful.

Shetland Islands Council development director Neil Grant told members of the local authority’s development committee on Tuesday that news of the Full Fibre Challenge Fund bid should be known on 18 December.

A similar bid last year to bring high speed broadband to Unst, Yell and Fetlar failed.

But Grant said on Tuesday that he is hopeful that repeating the bid could convince government officials that the isles is well placed to carry out the work.

“It has a business case that stacks up,” he said. “We can get going on it quickly.”

North Isles councillor Ryan Thomson said that poor broadband reliability and speeds was one of the main concerns for his constituents.

Councillors were previously told that if the second bid was not successful then the council would have to consider investing directly.

It has been previously estimated that the introduction of a fibre network in the North Isles could result in savings of around £100,000 for NHS Shetland through a greater capacity for telehealth appointments.

Grant, meanwhile, warned that he is not too optimistic that the Scottish Government will meet its intention to bring super fast broadband to 100 per cent of the country in the next few years.

“It feels as if it’s unlikely to hit the targets by 2021,” he said. 

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.

 

Newsletters

Subscribe to a selection of different newsletters from Shetland News, varying from breaking news delivered on the minute, to a weekly round-up of the opinion posts. All delivered straight to your inbox.

Daily Briefing Newsletter Weekly Highlights Newsletter Opinion Newsletter Life in Shetland Newsletter

JavaScript Required

We're sorry, but Shetland News isn't fully functional without JavaScript enabled.
Head over to the help page for instructions on how to enable JavaScript on your browser.

Your Privacy

We use cookies on our site to improve your experience.
By using our service, you agree to our Privacy Policy and Cookie Policy.

Browser is out-of-date

Shetland News isn't fully functional with this version of .
Head over to the help page for instructions on updating your browser for more security, improved speed and the best overall experience on this site.

Interested in Notifications?

Get notifications from Shetland News for important and breaking news.
You can unsubscribe at any time.

Become a supporter of Shetland News

We're committed to ensuring everyone has equitable access to impartial, open and quality local journalism that benefits all residents.

By supporting Shetland News, you play a vital role in ensuring we remain a pivotal resource in supporting the community.

Support us from as little as £3 per month – it only takes a minute to sign up. Thank you.