Sixteen of the eighteen local exchanges earmarked for broadband capacity upgrading are in the Highlands and Islands.
The exchanges, which currently operate limited ADSL services under the BT Exchange Activate scheme, are to see further investment to enable broadband customers to receive connections capable of supporting up to 8Mb services. The work is scheduled for completion by February 2008. Being lined up for full broadband service are:
Arden - February 2008
Ardvasar - February 2008
Craignure - February 2008
Fountainhall - February 2008 (Borders)
Heriot - February 2008 (Borders)
Keiss - February 2008
Longhope - February 2008
Onich - November 2007
Plockton - November 2007
Sanday - February 2008
Sligachan - February 2008
Struan - February 2008
Tomatin - November 2007
Waternish - February 2008
Birsay, Fern, Uig and Vidlin, meanwhile, are to have capacity problems resolved with the installation of additional DSLAM equipment. This means that more customers will be able to benefit from broadband at a speed of 512Kbps by the end of the month.
According to the Scottish Executive, the objective of the new upgrading work is to provide additional capacity in the exchanges experiencing capacity issues. “Full ADSL upgrades were selected in preference to the addition of an exchange activate module only where such an upgrade was more cost-effective in relative terms,” states the Scottish Executive.
Further details regarding the upgrades to Kishorn and Gask are to be announced soon.
Currently, more than 120 exchanges in the HIE network area are Exchange Activated with small-scale broadband equipment. While a step in the right direction from 56k dial up, the Exchange Activate specification is now lagging behind as customers are limited to a 512kbps service and certain ISPs.
The local exchanges broadband-enabled under the Exchange Activate scheme are as follows: A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P R S T U V W
A
Achiltibuie
Achnasheen
Achnashellach
Advie
Altnaharra
Applecross
Arden
Ardgour
Ardvasar
Assynt
Aultguish
B
Berriedale
Birsay
Burravoe
C
Cabrach
Cairngorm
Clachan
Colintraive
Coll
Colonsay
Craignure
D
Deerness
Diabaig
Drumbeg
Drummuir
Dunbeath
Dundonnell
Duntulm
Durness
E
Eday
Evie
F
Fair Isle
Fetlar
Forss
G
Foula
Gigha
Gillock
Glenborrodale
Glendale
Glenelg
Glenferness
Glenmazeran
Gutcher
H
Hoy
I
Inveruglas
Isle Ornsay
J
John O Groats
Jura
K
Keiss
Kilchattan Bay
Kilfinan
Killilan
Kinbrace
Kingairloch
Kingshouse
Kinlocheil
Kinlochewe
Kinlochspelve
Kishorn
L
Laggan
Lismore
Loch Scavaig
Lochmore
Longhope
Lyth
M
Merkland
Morvern
Mulben
N
North Erradale
North Roe
North Ronaldsay
O
Onich
Orton
Out Skerries
P
Papa Stour
Papa Westray
Pennyghael
Plockton
R
Rosehall
Rousay
S
Sanday
Scatwell
Scourie
Sligachan
Staffin
Strathconon
Strathkanaird
Strathnaver
Stromeferry
Stronsay
Struan
Struy
T
Talmine
Tarskavaig
The Craigs
Tiroran
Tomatin
Tomdoun
Tongue
Tulloch
U
Uig
Uyeasound
V
Vidlin
W
Waternish
West Sandwick
Westerdale
Whitehouse
