Multi-agency project connects key public sector sites within Highlands

A multi-agency project has connected 152 public sector sites to fibre in the Scottish Highlands as part of the Building Digital UK (BDUK) Local Full Fibre Networks (LFFN) programme.

The Highland Council and partners within the Highlands, UK Government’s Department of Culture, Media and Sport, Capita and CityFibre have completed the four-year project which saw £7.7m invested into the area’s digital infrastructure.

Following the UK Government’s £4.3m investment, Highland public sector partners contributed the remainder of the capital funding.

Scott Dingwall, head of regional development at Highland and Island Enterprise’s Lochaber, Skye and Wester Ross area team said: “We are providing additional support for this project to extend enhanced connectivity benefits across the canal in Fort William to Banavie and to Wick Business Park.”

The next Scottish areas to benefit from full fibre will be decided by an Open Market Review which was launched back in February.

The LFFN project has stimulated additional commercial rollout in the region, with Cityfibre committed to a £24.5m private investment to expand the full fibre network to cover the majority of premises in Inverness.

Pictured l-r: Michael Kelly, UK Gov, Scott Steele, HIE’s Scott Dingwall and Cllr Alan Henderson.