Iron Age museum connects to 21st century through broadband

A museum about the Iron Age is now linked to the 21st century thanks to superfast broadband rolled out around the country.

Across Scotland, more than 60% of the 943,000 homes and businesses reached by the Digital Scotland Superfast Broadband (DSSB) programme have chosen to connect to the service.

They include the Crannog Centre at Kenmore on Loch Tay, a “living history” museum which gives an insight into life during Iron Age times.

Ellen Pryde, of the Crannog Centre, said faster broadband has made a “huge difference” to the museum.

She said: “The centre receives thousands of visitors a year from all across the world while also working with local community groups, crafters, musicians and schools to deliver both in-house events and outreach days throughout the year.

“Faster broadband has made an enormous difference to how the museum is marketed and how it engages with its international audience and visitors from across Scotland.”

She added: “Overall, having broadband available in our rural area has enabled our business to grow not only commercially, but functionally and with a greater social impact as well.”

Fibre broadband offers fast and reliable broadband connections at a range of speeds, with many suppliers in the marketplace to choose from.

Local people need to sign up for the new, faster services with an internet service provider, as upgrades are not automatic.

Scotland’s connectivity minister Paul Wheelhouse said: “As we fully embrace the digital age, it’s wonderful to see that the Crannog Centre, an iconic visitor attraction demonstrating how our ancestors lived in the Iron Age, is one of the many households and businesses that make up the 60% of those provided with access to broadband through the Digital Scotland programme that have now chosen to upgraded to faster broadband services.

“Thanks to additional funding leveraged into the programme, we are continuing to see Scotland’s DSSB programme build into 2020, having now reached 943,000 premises.

“This funding is from a combination of efficiency savings, innovation and reinvestment as a result of our success in achieving much higher than predicted fibre take-up levels.

“Digital technology is at the forefront of today’s society. Superfast broadband can help transform businesses and those working in them by enabling people to stay connected with their customers and their colleagues.”

The programme is delivered through two projects, led by Highlands and Islands Enterprise in its area and the Scottish Government in the rest of Scotland.

Funding partners include BT Group, the UK Government through Broadband Delivery UK (BDUK), local authorities and the EU via the European Regional Development Fund.

The programme has been delivered on the ground by engineers from Openreach.

Brendan Dick, chair of the Openreach Board in Scotland, said: “It’s fantastic news that 60% of premises reached by the Digital Scotland rollout have now chosen to connect to the faster services available.

“Everyone involved knows just how big a task it’s been to build a fibre network across some of Europe’s most remote and challenging terrain.

“When we started, there were swathes of Scotland where there were no plans for any fast broadband.

“Today, 94% of the country can get a superfast service. That is truly transformational.”