Highland Council progresses with broadband roll-out

Highland Council has reported good progress with the roll-out of high-speed broadband internet connections across the Highlands and Islands, including Argyll and Bute, Moray, Orkney, Shetland and the Western Isles.

The Pathfinder North project was six months behind schedule and £1.6m over budget, according to an official report published in November, but 111 of 452 sites have now been connected.

The project, which aims to bring broadband services to schools and rural communities, is scheduled for completion by 2009, and is now on track to meet this deadline. Telecoms company, Thus, is delivering the network.

The previous Scottish Executive administration provided over £60m of funding for the scheme, five local authorities together made a £9m contribution and Highland Council has added an extra £1.6m.

The first sites in Shetland are expected to go live in January and the service will start in Orkney in February.