BT has contracted Global Marine Systems to lay a 70km fibre optic submarine cable between Orkney and the Scottish mainland to help carry its 21st Century Network to Scotland’s Northern Isles.

The cable itself is being installed under the Pentland Firth from Skaill Bay in Orkney to Dunnet Bay near Thurso and will complement the Islands existing radio (wireless) links:


The VNUNet item notes that BT's plan is part of a wider project to replace equipment in more than 1,000 exchanges across Scotland and could result in faster broadband services becoming available to some areas.