Fibre-optic broadband is set to be introduced to the Scottish Highlands by BT, at a cost of £146 million.
The Scottish Highlands are set to witness a significant digital transformation, thanks to a groundbreaking £146 million fibre-optic broadband project initiated by BT and Highlands and Islands Enterprise (HIE). The ambitious undertaking, described as the "most complex and challenging" by BT, aims to connect communities across the challenging landscapes of Europe, paving the way for future economic development and regeneration.
The project, announced in 2011, is expected to bring significant improvements to the broadband infrastructure in the Scottish Highlands. It will deliver a fibre-optic network, with a smaller rollout of fibre-to-the-premises (FTTP) broadband, capable of up to 200Mbps, planned for some homes. However, the primary focus remains on fibre-to-the-cabinet (FTTC) services, capable of speeds up to 80Mbps.
The scheme, which is one of the most ambitious infrastructure projects in Scotland's history according to HIE deputy first minister Nicola Sturgeon, will involve laying 800km of new fibre and installing hundreds of new street cabinets. A total of £127 million of the project funding is state funding, including contributions from BDUK and £12 million from Highlands and Islands Enterprise. Just £20 million will come from BT.
By the end of 2016, the scheme is expected to deliver broadband to 84% of homes and businesses in the highlands and nearby islands. To extend broadband services beyond this initial coverage, a £2.5 million innovation fund is part of the current scheme. White space technology, a known approach for remote connectivity, may be one of the focuses of this innovation fund, according to a BT spokesman.
Undersea cables will be laid at 19 crossings for the purpose of connecting the islands, marking the biggest sub-sea engineering project BT has undertaken in the UK. This is the first ever broadband project with so many seabed crossings undertaken by BT in the UK.
The new network will be open to all communications providers on an equal wholesale basis, creating a competitive market, as mentioned by Bill Murphy, BT Group's Managing Director of Next Generation Broadband.
While significant public investment and pilot programs are underway to improve broadband in the Highlands, including fibre deployment, any specific large-scale white space broadband project by BT and Highlands and Islands Enterprise remains either in early phases, proprietary, or not widely reported as of mid-2025. For precise progress or future plans for this BT/HIE white space initiative, it is recommended to check directly with Highlands and Islands Enterprise, BT, or official Scottish Government broadband program communications.
The broadband project is a significant investment in the digital infrastructure of the Scottish Highlands and nearby islands, promising to connect communities and drive economic growth in the region.
The ambitious broadband project, a significant investment in digital infrastructure, will open opportunities in various sectors, particularly in the industry, finance, energy, and data-and-cloud-computing sectors, as fast, reliable broadband is crucial for businesses in these fields. The implementation of white space technology, potentially a focus of the innovation fund, may further reinforce the Highlands' connectivity, thereby attracting technology-driven industries.
