TS Technology Services’ expertise helps bring high speed broadband services to Scotland’s Western Isles
TS Technology Services of Solihull, part of the multinational Tyco International group, has successfully completed a major contract for the Highlands and Islands Enterprise Network to bring the benefits of high speed broadband internet services to remote areas of the Western Isles in the North of Scotland where wired broadband is unavailable.
The installation was a major logistical and technological challenge involving installing complex equipment in difficult terrain and remote areas.
In addition, TS have now also been awarded a new 3 year services contract to provide full 24 x 7 maintenance of the complete network plus installations of all new residential and business customers and any extensions to the network.
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The system is part of the Highlands and Islands Connected Communities programme and offers secure high speed data and internet communications for a wide range of public and private users throughout the Western Islands. These include schools, NHS sites, libraries, learning centres, council offices, small to medium sized businesses (SMEs), teleworkers and homes on the islands of Lewis, Harris, North and South Uist, Benbecula and Barra. The Connected Communities project is one of the first and the largest in the UK to incorporate the recently licensed 5.8GHz wireless bands. TS Technology Services worked closely with Atkins who are providing the overall network design, equipment and services procurement, and on-going project management for the Highlands and Islands Connected Community programme in the Western Isles. |
“We are very excited about winning this major community project to bring modern high speed internet connectivity to remote areas of the Western Islands where it was previously unavailable,” said Ian Millard, Account Manager for TS Technology Services. “Our extensive experience and track record in installing, commissioning and maintaining large networks and communications systems often in difficult locations was a major factor in our success with the contract” he added.
“This project builds on our position as one of the most experienced microwave and radio installers in the country and demonstrates our ability to operate successfully in the most difficult and demanding terrains where logistics and access are extremely difficult,” he said. “We also provide installation, support, logistics and maintenance services for organisations including major telecoms operators, the European Space Agency and many others”.
The Highlands & Islands system uses high and medium capacity licensed digital microwave links (see photo) which form the backbone network linking the various community nodes back to a central hub in Stornoway which then connects to the internet and public sector nodes for onward transmission. At each local community node, fixed wireless systems provide high, medium and low bandwidth connectivity direct to the various user groups.
Connected Communities Broadband is a £5 million wireless broadband project designed to bring high speed internet connectivity to rural communities in the Western Isles where landline ADSL is not available. This encompasses a total of 21 local exchange areas stretching from Ness in the north of Lewis to Castlebay in Barra, some 180 miles distant. Coverage in the Connected Communities network area is ultimately expected to reach around 90 per cent or more of potential users.
The Connected Communities project is one of the first and the largest in the UK to incorporate the recently licensed 5.8GHz bands and the pilot has been funded through the DTI-sponsored Broadband Fund, Western Isles Enterprise, Comhairle nan Eilean Siar and match funded by the EU’s Highlands and Islands Special Transitional Program. For more information see http://www.hie.co.uk/Default.aspx.LocID-0finewknk.RefLocID-0fihiesv1007pgc002001.htm
