EU Cash Brings Fibre Optic Broadband to Rural Dalmore Village in Scotland

The £1m European Rural Broadband Challenge Fund (RBCF) and Outer Hebrides LEADER programme have successfully helped to fund and develop a new fibre optic network, which has been used to bring superfast broadband to five of the six houses in the tiny Highlands and Islands village of Dalmore (Scotland).

The Fibre-to-the-Croft-House pilot project, which connects into the wider Connected Communities network, is being used to help better understand the costs and technical challenges involved with hooking up such a small community to the very latest broadband infrastructure.

Donald MacLeod, Project Manager for the Local Community, said (Stornoway Gazette):

“The community of Dalmore wants to thank everybody involved in this project; we have at long last joined the 21st century. Not only can the school children in the village now keep up with their studies, but we hope shortly to have two small businesses run from the village.”

The village of Dalmore sits within the last 1% or so of UK homes where broadband connectivity hasn’t previously existed. It is one of several successful communities in the islands which have received money after bidding to the RBCF.

Some funding will also go towards the construction of three relay sites on the West coast of Harris (due for completion this month) and another is set to follow at Lochside in North Tolsta.

Apparently Atkins, an engineering consultancy firm, built Dalmore’s network and will also provide for its on-going operational support needs.