Fibre broadband boosts Dunoon firms download speeds by 6000%
More than 5800 homes and businesses across Dunoon, Hunters Quay, Sandbank, Sandhaven, and areas within Kilmun and Innellan are now able to access fibre broadband, thanks to BT’s commercial roll-out and the Digital Scotland Superfast Broadband (DSSB) partnership.
Further DSSB coverage is anticipated in 2016, which is set to include a further 1000 premises currently served from Exchange Only lines in Dunoon, Innellan, Strone, Blairmore and Ardentinny – these are lines that are not connected to a street cabinet but run direct from the exchange.
Brendon Wallace, founding partner of IT firm BC Technologies which is based at the Holy Loch Marina in Dunoon, is singing the praises of the new technology, thanks to the partnership roll-out.
His firm BC technologies specialises in the supply and maintenance of IT hardware, software and related systems and advice but, being located in a semi-rural area within Argyll, it has suffered many years of slow broadband speeds.
He said: “As a proactive IT support company this created a huge challenge and prevented our business from developing using modern technologies.
“The introduction of superfast fibre broadband has increased our download speed by 6000% and has enabled us to push forward with technologies like IP CCTV cameras, Voice over IP telephone systems, video conferencing, more efficient remote fixes, 24 hour monitoring of servers and computers and the integration of hosted cloud-based applications.”
Brendon added: “The faster connection speed is saving my business a lot of money by being able to utilise these services. I can even host video meetings with colleagues from our other offices In Glasgow and London, cutting down on time and money spent from travelling, as well as reducing our carbon footprint.”
BT’s own commercial roll-out has enabled 4,575 premises in the area, with the DSSB partnership responsible for 1,290, plus the 1000 lines set for upgrade this year.
The partnership coverage forms part of a three year £146m investment, funded by the Scottish Government, the UK Government, Highlands and Islands Enterprise and private sector partner BT, with engineers from BT’s local network business, Openreach, delivering the project on the ground.
Brendan Dick, director, BT Scotland, said: “It’s wonderful how local firms like BC Technologies can use fibre technology to increase their business efficiency, open up new markets and technologies and save money and travel.
“Small businesses can unlock increasing opportunities to delight customers with innovative solutions and more flexible working practices.
“Traditional broadband connections may struggle to cope with all the simultaneous demands of a busy business. With fast fibre broadband though, everyone in a home or small business is able to do what they want online – all at the same time – without any delays.”
Stuart Robertson, director of digital at HIE, said: “The creation of the core fibre network is opening up access to next generation broadband across Argyll and the Islands.In Dunoon it’s made a number of things possible: BT has been able to deliver coverage for thousands of customers through its own roll-out; our project has built on this coverage to reach even further, bringing services to homes and businesses just like Brendon’s; and high speed business services are now an option for those where connectivity is a priority.
“With more than 22,000 premises now getting coverage in towns and villages across the area, and work started in many more, we’re looking forward to an exciting year ahead as we roll-out even further.”
When fibre based broadband is available you do need to order. To find out if you can get it please visit www.hie.co.uk/whereandwhen and visit your service provider’s website for details of how to order.
