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Far-reaching broadband project falls behind
(30-11-07) -A £70 million flagship project to bring fast broadband connections to the furthest outposts of the UK has fallen behind schedule and is running £1.6 million over budget.
Telecoms company Thus has experienced problems trying to access hilltop sites where it can raise radio masts to deliver the signal to the Highlands and other areas within the Pathfinder North scheme.
The Scottish Executive has already put £60 million into the scheme, which will bring broadband to the Highlands, Argyll and Bute, Moray, Orkney, Shetland and the Western Isles. Local councils had committed a further £9 million, but will now have to find the additional £1.6 million needed.
This latest setback in connecting the last remaining outposts to a broadband signal comes as Stephen Timms, Government Minister for Competitiveness, drew up his plan for a super-fast broadband network for the UK.
He announced this week that an agreement had been drawn up whereby the Government will pull together the best practices from various pilots around the UK such as Virgin Media’s (www.VirginMedia.com) up to 50Mb cable connections and BT’s (www.BT.com) 21 Century Network, which will begin rolling out 24Mb broadband next year.
However, Michael Phillips, BroadbandChoices.co.uk product director, said: “While the situation in the Highlands is extreme, and there are now very few people in the UK who cannot connect to broadband internet, there are still many people who are dissatisfied with their current broadband connections.
“Undoubtedly, the UK does need to keep up with neighbouring countries, some of whom are now developing speeds of up to 100Mb, but I feel that since most people do not know what they would actually do with such speeds, they would rather just have a consistent, reliable connection.
“The Government needs to address current complaints, as well as looking to forward thinking technologies,” he said.
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