Full fibre 1Gbps broadband comes to Outer Hebrides

Charlotte Whyatt • 30 Aug 2019

The remote communities of Grimsay and Great Bernera enjoy some of the UK's fastest speeds.

Residents of two remote Scottish islands in the Outer Hebrides now have access to some of the UK’s fastest broadband speeds. 

The few hundred households in the tiny communities of Grimsay and Great Bernera can access a full fibre broadband connection of 1Gbps. 

Just 7% of homes across the entirety of the UK have access to full fibre which sees us lagging far behind many countries in Europe.

The goal of 100% full fibre coverage was achieved by laying a 56 miles of brand-new fibre cables. 

This project was undertaken by BT’s Openreach engineers through the Digital Scotland Superfast Broadband project which has so far spent £422 million upgrading the country. 

It used to be that the only way islanders could get online was through an unreliable wireless connection over an independant radio which had a top download speed of 2Mbps. 

“This project is a game-changer for the people of the Western Isles, with a lasting legacy for the future,” said Robert Thorburn, Openreach partnership director for Scotland.

“In a place like Grimsay, technology is truly life-changing – opening up markets and innovation for businesses and connecting islanders to each other, the world and vital services.”

Source: BBC News