HIE consultation on next generation broadband and current local broadband speeds

Highlands and Islands Enterprise (HIE) are currently undertaking a consultation on local broadband speeds.

All of the detail is in the consultation document – downloadable here: HIE+Broadband+Consultation+2012[1]

Appendix 2 shows a map of the Highlands and Islands where areas shown in white will see HIE intervention in ensuring that they get next generation broadband (NGB). These are areas for which there are  no plans by commercial providers to offer NGB services, hence the need for intervention.

Areas shown in grey – with quite a lot of them across Argyll and the Isles, are postcodes ‘where one supplier is already, or has stated that they expect to supply NGB services within the next three years’.

Areas in black on this map are those postcodes ‘where two suppliers already, or have stated they expect to offer
NGB services within the next three years’. Interestingly, the only areas in the Highlands and Islands shown in black, as far as we can identify them on this map, are in the Western Isles, in an east coast ribbon down North Uist, Benbecula and the north of South Uist.

Your responses – what to do

Responses should be sent to digitalhighlandsandislands@hient.co.uk  by 13th August 2012.

Please note that HIE is also looking for feedback from residents and businesses on the accuracy of the map in Appendix 1, which shows where there are said to be current broadband services.