Broadband bringing connectivity to the whole island
The lack of availability of superfast broadband and the lack of fast or any mobile coverage has been a major constraint to the economic growth of Arran.
Highlands and Islands Enterprise (HIE) estimates, based on cabinet installations, that more than 90 per cent of households and businesses on Arran now have access to superfast broadband.
BT Openreach/HIE report there are currently 21 cabinets live on Arran. Areas with live service include: Blackwaterfoot, Brodick, Corrie, Kilmory, Lamlash, Lochranza, Pirnmill, Shiskine and Sliddery – there are two cabinets still to go live in 2018 at Whiting Bay and Kildonan.
The take-up in North Ayrshire ie Arran and Cumbrae is 41.5 per cent against an average across the Highlands and Islands of 40.7 per cent. HIE has no takeup figure for Arran alone but no reason to think it is widely different from that on Cumbrae. To check if a property can access fibre the following checker can be used log on to: www.hie. co.uk/hector.
Arran is better connected than ever before, with mainstream fibre available from multiple providers for the first time.
The Machrie area of Arran was not targeted in the original plan for BT fibre roll out however an independent solution was identified by the local pressure group; ConnectArran. The Machrie whitespace solution provided by Broadway Partners and Arran Broadband is now well underway with 42 installations in operation and a further 80 in the pipeline.
Broadway Partners have now surveyed the Brodick and Lamlash areas and in the process of new installations. Superfast download speeds of more than 80 mbps are realised by users with local businesses finding daily operations faster and easier than ever before.
As a natural conclusion to this initial independent solution, a new Arran business was set up as a subsidiary of Broadway Partners – Arran Broadband – managed and operated by local people and importantly offering flexible terms on comparable contract rates with BT Open Reach. Arran Broadband has continued to make steady progress through 2017 and a growing number of residents, visitors and businesses around the south-west and south of the island are now enjoying the benefits of high speed, reliable broadband service.
Arran Broadband was the first commercial user in Europe of the new TV WhiteSpace technology, allowing it to guarantee that, regardless of geography, hills and trees, fully 100 per cent of premises in an area can be connected.
The AEG annual report states: ‘We appreciate that access to superfast does not mean connected to it. The work of 2018 will be to identify barriers in connection, technical issues and a lack of knowledge on the benefits that superfast broadband brings. However, we should acknowledge the major step forward in digital connectivity in the last year with two suppliers on the island offering alternative technical solutions to match customer needs and locations.
‘Broadway Partners, the company behind Arran Broadband, has ambitious plans for 2018, and expects to begin connecting customers in Lamlash, Whiting Bay and Brodick by the summer and to complete coverage of the island by the end of the year. Arran Broadband has created new employment on the island and now employs modern apprentices to support their new customer base.’
Meanwhile mobile connectivity also remains a challenge on Arran, but agreements/community commitment regarding masts etc. is now in place and waiting on finalisation of independent mobile provider commitments being agreed with Scottish Futures Trust (SFT).
Communication and agreement has been reached with the Scottish Futures Trust for the implementation of 4G on Arran with monthly updates to check progress. The community council and AEG is working closely with SFT to ensure the pace is kept up. 4G is now available in Brodick with further finalisation work being carried out which will provide a 4G service in the Lamlash and Kilmory areas.
An upgrade to emergency services network around the island is being undertaken by EE. Confirmation has been requested that these sites will include commercial capacity and not limited solely to emergency services connection.
SFT are following up to identify ‘not spots’ with a view to developing plans for future roll out of this critical resource.