Neos Networks Complete £10.5m Aberdeenshire Full Fibre Network

Neos Networks has today announced the completion of their £10.5m state aid funded Local Full Fibre Networks (LFFN) contract to rollout a new 275km long gigabit-capable Dark Fibre broadband network to connect 192 public sector sites (hospitals, council buildings etc.) in Aberdeenshire, Scotland.

The new network, which is focused on the Aberdeen City and surrounding areas (part of the Aberdeen City Region Deal), now links six major locations – Aberdeen, Westhill, Stonehaven, Banchory, Inverurie and Ellon as well as the smaller communities in-between (it’s also underpinned by a 20-year contract).

The network also passes close to 44,000 homes and 1,700 business premises within the region, but to reach those would require a separate commercial investment from ISPs etc.

Sarah Mills, Chief Revenue Officer at Neos Networks, said:

“To have delivered the full fibre network, in this time frame, given all the challenges of the pandemic and various lockdowns, has been truly remarkable.

Vital, and regionally important sites such as the Aberdeen Royal Infirmary, 40-plus medical centres, as well as more than 50 schools and colleges, are supported by the new fibre network. Ultimately, the network will provide access that is critical to stimulating business growth and attracting investment in the region.”

Alex Nicoll, Aberdeen City Council Co-Leader, said:

“The £10.5m Full Fibre Project has transformed connectivity to our public sector sites throughout the region. Additionally, it has given the contractor the opportunity to offer services to local businesses and residents to access far better connectivity in areas that were poorly served previously. I was very pleased that as a result, the investment is also delivering significant community benefits which was recognised by winning the Go Awards Social Value Category demonstrating robust and progressive approaches to fair work practices. Having delivered two out of three digital projects funded by the Deal our focus is now on delivering the final phase which will deliver even more digital connectivity in the region.”

However, it’s worth noting that this project was originally supposed to be completed by March 2022, so it finished a fair few months later than originally planned. The rollout also harnessed 43km of existing fibre to reduce the amount of construction required.