The north-east’s newest town will be the first community in Scotland with access to “hyperfast” broadband, its developer has announced.
And the firm behind the £800million Countesswells development, in Aberdeen, says it could be rolled out further to improve “shockingly poor” digital connectivity in the area, but only with public sector funding.
At 1 Gigabit per second (Gbps) the download speed available at the site of the 3,000 new homes will be the fastest available in the UK.
Countesswells Development Limited (CDL) the company established by Stewart Milne Homes to build the new town, has signed an agreement with internet service provider Grain to set up the network.
Ducting for the fibre network is being installed across the site as part of the major enabling infrastructure works that began last year.
CDL project director Jim Fitzsimons said: “Digital infrastructure and broadband speeds are shockingly poor in this part of the world. Private, as well as public, sector investment is required to improve our digital connectivity.
“As part of our vision to make Countesswells the most connected community in Scotland, we made the decision to install the best fibre network at the out-set. We’ve been able to install the fibre, along with the work on existing and new roads, which makes it relatively cost-effective.
“The wider region can benefit from what we’ve already done, but rolling it out more widely will require support from the public sector.”
The announcement was welcomed by Aberdeen and Grampian Chamber of Commerce (AGCC) who added their voice to calls for better broadband provision in the area.
AGCC chief executive Russell Borthwick said: “This is welcome news following the recent Centre for Cities report that placed Aberdeen as 64th out of 64 UK cities in terms of our ultrafast broadband and the fact that we don’t even feature in the Tech Nation 2017 study.
“The public and private sectors must work together to provide the connectivity we need to deliver our ambitious economic diversification plans and it is encouraging to see the forward-thinking and innovative partnership that has been created at Countesswells.”
Grain managing director Rich Robinson said the company would look into ways of improving broadband services at nearby Kingswells once the new town network was complete.
“Ultimately, our hyperfast broadband could be accessible right across the city,” he added.
Jennifer Craw, chief executive of Opportunity North East, welcomed the news, said improving digital infrastructure was “key to the future success of the region’s economy.”
