The Press and Journal (Inverness, Highlands, and Islands)
Wellconnected: Estatemanagernolongerhastowaituntilnighttosende-mails
Altnaharra’s remote location meant until very recently that estate manager Pieter Bakker was managing day-to-day business with a super-slow 0.4Mbps internet connection.
He said: “The difference the fast connection has made is massive. I can download and upload documents and forms from websites, like the Scottish Government’s Rural Payments and Inspections Division and Scottish Natural Heritage, and send e-mails in seconds.
“It’s made all kinds of online paperwork easier – previously I’d spend hours trying then checking to see if my message or form had eventually been sent . . . often not. Despite having two separate connections, no-one else could be online at the same time as it would totally grind to a halt, which often meant working at night.
“Now I can check things like weather forecasts and river levels instantly.
“We’re also installing high-speed connections into the lodge and two holiday cottages on the estate – it’s always one of the main questions asked when our guests arrive.
“It means our business guests will be able to keep in touch with their businesses, and it will also be very popular with any employees and their families. The arrival of high-speed broadband has truly changed our future in Altnaharra.”