Broadband in the Western Isles of Scotland

Broadband Relay Sites

Last Updated 02/07/2008
Island	Community	Site Grid Ref	Serving	Current Status	Estimated Completion of Mast Build	Estimated Completion of Power Connections & Equipment Install	Service Delivery
Barra	Bruernish	NF 72696 01646	Northbay	Mast share application to Orange being progressed.	n/a	TBA	TBA
Barra	Eoligarry	NF 70800 07853	Eoligarry	Planning approved. On hold.	Aug-Sep 08	Aug-Sep 08	Aug-Sep 08
Berneray	Berneray School	N/A	Berneray	Planning application approved. Imminent building works. Require antennae to be located outwith school perimeter.	n/a	Aug-08	Aug-08
Berneray	Borve Hill	NF 91734 81280	Borve/ Boreray/ Sollas/ Clachan Sands/ Grenitote	Awaiting commissioning of microwave. Now planned for w/c 21st Jul	Completed.	Completed.	Jul-08
Grimsay	Gearraidh Dubh	NF 86110 58062	Grimsay/ Kallin	Base complete & mast erected. Awaiting power connection. Provisional connection date of 14 Jul from SSE	Completed.	End Jul-Aug 08	End Jul-Aug 09
Grimsay	Kallin	NF 88079 55399	Baymore/ Kallin	Awaiting Landowner's solicitors	Aug-08	Aug-08	Aug-08
Harris	Cluer	NG 15035 90567	Cluer/Collam	Sites identified and design works in progress	Aug-08	Aug-08	Aug-08
Harris	Grosebay	NG 15722 92792	Grosebay	Sites identified and design works in progress	Aug-08	Aug-08	Aug-08
Harris	Horgabost	NG 03969 96433	Scarista/ Borve (Replaces Northton)	Planning Permission approved. OFCOM licence approved. Site ready for build.	Jul-Aug 08	Jul-Aug 08	Jul-Aug 08
Harris	Scarista	NG 01590 93310	Scarista/ Borve/ Horgabost	Awaiting completion of Horgabost mast for relay service.	Completed.	Jul-Aug 08	Jul-Aug 08
Harris	Strond	NG 03053 83890	Borrisdale/ Strond	Scheduled to be completed by end July	Completed.	Jul-08	Jul-08
Harris	Luskentyre	NG 06890 99280	Luskentyre/ Seilebost/ Cliasmol	OFCOM licence approved	Jul-08	Awaiting Horgabost	Awaiting Horgabost
Harris	Maaruig	existing site	Maaruig (Relay)	Application to BT for mast share.	Jul-Aug 08	Jul-Aug 08	Jul-Aug 08
Harris	Maaruig	TBA	Maaruig	Landowner/tenant consent being progressed.	Jul-Aug 08	Jul-Aug 08	Jul-Aug 08
Harris	Rhenigidale1	NB 21952 02923	Rhenigidale	Site built. Awaiting power connection	Completed.	Jul-08	Jul-Aug 08
Harris	Rhenigidale2	NB 22707 01723	Rhenigidale	Site built. Awaiting power connection	Completed.	Jul-08	Jul-Aug 08
Lewis	Circebost	NB 18056 34422	Circebost/ Earshader	Tenant identified. Progressing legal documentation.	Aug-08	Aug-08	Aug-08
Lewis	Gravir	NB 37329 15165	Gravir	Planning approved. Awaiting landowner consent.	Aug-08	Aug-08	Aug-08
Lewis	Scaliscro	NB 13515 27159	Gisla	Landowner/tenant consent being progressed. Awaiting OFCOM licence for Ungeshader	Aug-08	Aug-08	Aug-08
Lewis	Ungeshader	NB 12155 29538	Gisla	Revised location awaiting agreement. Awaiting OFCOM licence.	Aug-08	Aug-08	Aug-08
North Uist	Clachan Sands	NF 88240 75981	Clachan Sands	Mast build completed. Awaiting electricity connection date.	Completed.	Jul-Aug 08	Jul-Aug 08
North Uist	Griminish	TBA	Sollas/ Grenitote/ Griminish	Awaiting link build to Borve Hill. Mast build planned for w/c 7/7	Jul-08	Jul-Aug 08	Jul-Aug 08
Scalpay	Blackhill	NG 21332 96268	Scalpay/ Drinnishader	Planning Permission approved. Awaiting electricity connection date.	Completed.	Jul-08	Jul-08
Scalpay	Bayhead	NG 21956 96268	Scalpay/ Kyles Scalpay	Planning Permission submitted. Decision awaited. Awaiting electricity connection date.	Jul-Aug 08	Jul-Aug 08	Jul-Aug 08
South Uist	Howmore	NF 77028 39579	Stilligarry/ Snishival	Awaiting Vodafone licence	n/a	Jul-Aug 08	Jul-Aug 08
South Uist	Glendale	NF 78306 14575	Existing mast. Serve Ludag & Eriskay	Planning permission obtained. Proceed to erect mast extension. Planned for w/c 7/7	Jul-08	Jul-08	Jul-08
South Uist	Lochcarnan	NF 82721 43179	Orosay/ Lochcarnan/ Hacklett/ Grimsay/ Loch Skipport/ Gerinish	Mast build planned in progress	Jul-08	Jul-08	Jul-Aug 08

COMPLETED SITES
Harris	Ardvey	NG 08077 87035	Finsbay/ Ardvey/ Quidinish	Completed	Completed.	Completed	Completed
Harris	Geocrab	NG 11197 89771	Geocrab	Completed	Completed.	Completed	Completed
Harris	Liceasto	NG 11807 92465	Liceasto/ Ardvey/ Leacklea/ Stockinish	Completed	Completed.	Completed	Completed
Harris	Manish	NG 10620 89440	Manish/ Ardslave	Completed	Completed.	Completed	Completed
Lewis	Valtos	NB 09950 36550	Valtos/ Kneep	Completed	Completed.	Completed	Completed
Lewis	Brenish/Islivig	NA 99527 27278	Brenish/Islivig	Completed	Completed.	Completed	Completed
Lewis	Geshader	NB 11735 31943	Geshader/ Reef/ Uigen/ Miavaig/ Carishader	Completed	Completed.	Completed	Completed
Lewis	Carloway	NB20760 42094	Carloway	Completed	Completed.	Completed	Completed
North Uist	Locheport	NF 87097 63091	Locheport/ Langass	Completed	Completed.	Completed	Completed
South Uist	Cothrom LC	NF 75738 30609	Locheynort	Completed	Completed.	Completed	Completed
South Uist	Garrynamonie	NF 75298 16581	Garrynamonie/ North Boisdale	Completed	Completed.	Completed.	Completed.
South Uist	Locheynort	NF 77758 27509	Locheynort	Completed	Completed.	Completed	Completed

Over recent months the Connected Communities Broadband team has been progressing a series of relay sites to serve those communities not yet able to receive broadband. On the 14th December Comhairle nan Eilean Siar approved £400k towards the programme which now allows a number of steps to be progressed including lodging of planning permissions and in some cases finalising the arrangements for agreeing use of the sites. Detailed planning and costing has been completed as has the predictive coverage modelling to ensure the maximum numbers of subscribers receive a service from the planned installations. Procurement of equipment and services will also now be undertaken to enable a phased roll-out of sites.

Detailed surveys have highlighted a greater number of out of reach areas than originally estimated due to the extreme nature of the topography and the distances involved. While initial planning focused on a smaller number of locations it became evident that economies of scale could be achieved by undertaking this much larger deployment of sites now planned to cover 33 locations. The first five sites have been completed where existing buildings or infrastructure could be utilised to enable the relay sites to be installed. The remaining sites will require small relay masts and the planned build dates will now result in most sites being built by March 2008.

While the project team acknowledge that the rollout has taken longer than anticipated in some areas, it is felt that the enlarged project will bring significant social and economic benefits to the rural communities of the Outer Hebrides which on completion of this initiative, will be one of the most connected rural communities in the UK.

Yours sincerely
Donnie Morrison
Project Manager
Connected Communities

For further information contact:
John Macdonald john.macdonald@hient.co.uk Tel 01851 707324