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Shetland Islands 'set for broadband boost'
Monday 26th January 2009, by Daniel King
A new pilot study could see residents in two small Shetland communities able to take advantage of faster and more reliable broadband services.
Businesses and households in the village of Vidlin and the small island of Fetlar have previously suffered from slow and unreliable connections due to their remote location, the Shetland News reports.
However, a new agreement between the council and telecoms company Thus - which is owned by Cable and Wireless - will allow all properties to access a wireless broadband connection offering speeds of at least 2Mbps.
The move follows a series of campaigns by residents and companies in the region to help improve broadband services.
Local businesswoman Helen Erwood welcomed the council's investment, which she said would help boost the local economy.
"It demonstrates an appreciation that Shetland needs to considerably improve its future commitments to having communications networks that adequately support e-business activities," she claimed.
Ms Erwood added that access to faster and more reliable broadband connections would allow businesses in the region to compete "on a level playing field" with mainland companies and continue to thrive within the community.
Shetland Islands council has invested £100,000 in the scheme, which it estimates will see at least 50 businesses and households in Vidlin benefit.
A further 20 properties in Fetlar are also expected to connect to the system, which will cost around the same as a BT ADSL connection.
This comes after a study by the Communications Consumer Panel revealed that an increasing number of community-led fast broadband schemes are now under way across the UK as web users grow tired of waiting for big firms to introduce faster networks.
Categories: Broadband
