Drinking water pipes are delivering faster and more reliable
broadband for the first time in the UK.
Nearly every business and resident in Papa Westray, Orkney, can
now receive speeds comparable to less rural areas of Scotland
through the Reaching 100% (R100) programme.
Contractor CloudNet used the community-owned water authority's
existing infrastructure, with Scottish Government funding, as a
more efficient and less disruptive alternative to conventional
cable laying methods.
The fibre cable is delivered through a second pipe housed within
the drinking water network. Papa Westray became the first to use
this approach successfully because the water system is owned by
the community, streamlining the process of gaining permissions
and causing less disruption to the island's roads.
The new broadband network – which allows CloudNet to offer a
superfast service – enables, for example, remote monitoring of
livestock via CCTV and home healthcare check-ups via
video call. It also supports visitor accommodation booking
systems and tourism facilities on the island of 90 residents.
Business Minister said:
“This ingenious approach represents a less disruptive way of
delivering faster connectivity to all on Papa Westray.
Scotland is famous the world over for its innovation. We are
working with rural communities in the most imaginative ways
possible to bring faster broadband to some of the hardest to
reach parts of the country.
“This project showcases engineering creativity at its best and
makes it easier for residents to do business and access essential
services such as health and education.
“This will also help attract people to live and work on Papa
Westray. Under the £600 million R100 programme, the Scottish
Government is helping deliver a fair, green and growing economy
for all our regions.”
Remote sensors placed in the water pipe provide a hi-tech
way to monitor the island's water quality.
Papa Westray Water Board supply engineer Ian Cursiter said:
“Without this high speed connectivity, I wouldn't be able to
remotely monitor my farm or the water network for the
island.
“The real benefit in monitoring the water network for levels of
usage, pressure and so on, is providing a much more efficient
water system, which will ultimately be more environmentally
friendly and cost effective to islanders.
“I've lived on Papa Westray my whole life and I'm delighted to
see connectivity that allows the islanders to access the same
facilities as those on the mainland.”
CloudNet Managing Director Greg Whitton said:
“CloudNet are proud to have delivered this Scottish Broadband
Voucher Scheme project to the most remote island in Orkney – Papa
Westray – the first successful commercial project of its kind in
the UK.
“Due to the island topography, we used the water network to
deliver fibre to the premises. This helped minimise excavations
and excessive construction costs on the project to meet the
programme needs.”
Background
The R100 Scottish Broadband Voucher Scheme provided a voucher
worth up to £5,000 to help homes and businesses that were
not in coverage plans of either the Reaching 100% contracts or
planned commercial investment to obtain superfast broadband
speeds where providers may not ordinarily go.
Contractor CloudNet installed connections using a radio signal
from the neighbouring island of Westray, which is then
distributed to premises using fibre cabling.
