Hello to tomorrow. High speed fibre broadband for Scotland

Transcription

1 Hello to tomorrow High speed fibre broadband for Scotland

2 >>> High speed fibre Broadband for Scotland >>> Hello to Tomorrow s Scotland Digital Scotland Superfast Broadband is a transformational programme bringing high speed fibre broadband to Scotland and helping us ensure we have the infrastructure we need to become a world class digital country. 2

3 The scale and breadth of this programme is breathtaking! This exciting 410 million programme will bring fibre broadband to 85% of homes and businesses in Scotland by the end of 2015 and to around 95% of premises by the end of The impact will be phenomenal right across Scotland - from our seven cities to our rural and island communities. In family homes, village halls and city offices, fibre broadband will change lives, create opportunities and help build a better future for all of us. Thanks to Digital Scotland Superfast Broadband, thousands of homes and businesses that would not otherwise have been able to connect to fibre broadband will now be able to do so. No less than three quarters of a million homes and businesses will benefit. The Digital Scotland Superfast Broadband programme is just one part of the Scottish Government s plans to put Scotland right at the forefront of the global digital economy. The Scottish Government wants to ensure that Scotland is a world class digital nation by an innovative and vibrant country where businesses can flourish in competitive markets and every single individual can reach their full potential. Digital Scotland Superfast Broadband is an important step toward this goal, creating a future-proof fibre broadband infrastructure that will be the springboard for long term growth and prosperity in Scotland. It means new jobs, new horizons and new opportunities for all. 3

4 >>> High speed fibre Broadband for Scotland >>> The Future is Fibre Optic Broadband Fibre optic broadband is the best available broadband technology and it means Scotland will be able to enjoy the fastest possible internet speeds. The new fibre broadband infrastructure will be future proof. Once fibre is rolled out across Scotland, it will stand us in good stead for decades to come. Nearly 30,000 km of fibre optic is being laid in Scotland enough to travel to Australia and back Its name comes from the use of miniscule glass or plastic fibre wires (thinner than a human hair) which can transmit information faster than the standard copper wires that have been used in our telephone lines up until now. Information is sent as pulses of light. The speed at which it travels is mind blowing! And it s not only faster, it s higher quality and more reliable too. What does this mean for you? This means that you can enjoy faster and more reliable broadband, regardless of how many people in your home or office are all online at the same time. Households and businesses in Scotland will enjoy internet speeds of up to 80 Mbps (or even up to 330 Mbps in some places). You do not need a fancy computer or to be a computer wizard- just order fibre broadband from your internet service provider and take the first step towards a better future. Replacing the old copper telephone lines with fibre optic technology is the kind of infrastructure investment that happens once in a lifetime. 44x 1sec Fibre is future proof. Recent real world trials by BT and Alcatel-Lucent saw broadband speeds reach a whopping 1.4 Tbps (terabits per second). That s enough to transfer 44 High Definition films in one single second. Even more staggering results of 73 Tbps have been demonstrated under laboratory conditions. So once the fibre network is installed, it s going to last us well into the future. 4

5 Did you Know? Because fibre optic broadband uses light not electrical current, it is safer and greener Each fibre strand can transmit the entire contents of the Encyclopedia Brittanica in less than a second 73% of business users say they work faster since changing to fibre optic broadband (BT survey) 300,000 Fibre optic broadband uses light to transmit data, and light travels at 300,000 km per second 1880 Fibre optic has a history. The first practical application of fibre optic theory was in 1880 with Scotsman Alexander Graham Bell s Photofone which used light to transmit sound. The first actual fibre optic cabling started showing up in the 1950 s. This is a technology rooted in solid history Make sure you re up to speed 5

6 >>> High speed fibre Broadband for Scotland >>> Fibre Broadband is Transforming Scotland Digital Scotland Superfast Broadband is helping change things for the better in Scotland. The changes will be felt right across Scotland, within the economy and at every level of society. Imagine a Scotland where......people can run great businesses from rural communities, just as easily and effectively as if they were in a city office...people of every age can keep on learning, opening up exciting new opportunities for work and leisure...people, wherever they are, can buy goods and services, access public services and easily find the information they need when they need it...people with long term health conditions can be supported in their own homes through online monitoring and consultations. More competitive businesses, that can streamline their operations, trade internationally and grow leading to more jobs and more opportunity for career progression in Scotland. More inward investment, as businesses are attracted by our fabulous combination of world class fibre broadband and outstanding quality of life. Better connected communities, where individuals can share information, knowledge and skills, as well as enjoy better access to online government services. Environmental benefits, with reduced carbon emissions as people need to travel by road less, making more use of the internet for work, business meetings, online shopping and more! More opportunity for all, through online learning and more scope for flexible working from home, improving work life balance. Improved health and well being, as telehealth allows easier access to expert medical advice and more frequent health monitoring, as well as helping support elderly people to live safely in their own homes for longer. x 20 For every 1 invested in fibre broadband by Digital Scotland Superfast Broadband, there will be a 20 benefit to the Scottish economy. (Source: SQW Group) 6

7 Digital Scotland Superfast Broadband will lay the foundations of a world class digital Scotland. Our challenge is to build on these foundations and embrace the opportunities of the digital age with confidence Deputy First Minister, John Swinney 7

8 >>> High speed fibre Broadband for Scotland >>> It s Fantastic News for Businesses Fibre broadband means businesses in Scotland can do so much more online, becoming more competitive and successful. Greater productivity Faster speeds even at the busiest times of day mean that you can upload large files such as complex graphics and videos in a fraction of the time. Better service and reliability It doesn t matter how many people in your office are using the internet at the same time you will still enjoy the same excellent internet speeds. Cloud computing Services and applications that would previously have only been affordable to large corporations are now available instantly to the smallest business. Closer relationships Connect with customers, colleagues and suppliers in new ways such as through Skype, FaceTime and high definition video conferencing. This makes it easier to speak to customers and colleagues wherever they are and allows you to collaborate with colleagues thousands of miles away, even working on the same document together in real time. Work anywhere anytime Now you can work from home and on the move just as effectively as from the office. What s more, you ll save money too by reducing travel to the office and the need for face to face meetings. Fibre broadband is fantastic! All nine people in our office can be online at the same time with speeds as high as 80 Mbps. This is a huge boost to our productivity We frequently talk to our clients in Japan and the United States. Since having fibre broadband, we can rely on excellent quality Skype, so we now routinely use videoconferencing in place of telephone calls, which helps us build good client relations at a distance With fibre broadband, it is far easier to work effectively from home. We can access company files and work just as easily from home or on the move. Our productivity is increasing, as less time is wasted commuting to the office and we can enjoy an improved work life balance in our unspoilt corner of Scotland 8

9 Helping businesses make the most of digital Whatever stage your business is at, Business Gateway offers a wide range of professional resources and support. All are designed to help you learn new skills, create opportunities and develop strategies for a sustainable business. Workshops are delivered across the whole of Scotland, including many designed to help you make the most of digital technology. These include inspiring workshops on improving your website performance, web design, online trading and social media, to name but a few. For more details on these events and for other useful information and guides, visit or call

10 >>> High speed fibre Broadband for Scotland >>> It s Sensational for Home Users With fast internet speeds it really doesn t matter how many family members want to use the internet at the same time. Everyone can do their own thing, all at the same time, whether it s downloading new songs, watching the latest film, playing games or doing the weekly shop online. Faster uploads and downloads Upload photos to Facebook or other social media in a flash as well as send or receive any other large files in the blink of an eye. Get films and TV shows in seconds With high speed fibre broadband you can download the latest movies instantly or watch a favourite TV show whenever you want. It s TV on demand! Chat to family and friends face to face Talk to your family, friends and colleagues wherever they are in the world through high definition video calling such as Skype or FaceTime. What s more, you can do this without any time delay or frozen screens. It s just like being in the same room. Download and play games online With high speed fibre broadband, you can lose yourself in the excitement without having to worry about losing your connection. Take an online learning course With high speed fibre broadband you can study online courses with flexible hours that fit in with your busy life and enjoy great video tutorials that really bring the subject to life. Easily access government services All the many government services, including benefits, job search, tax and so much more, are easier and quicker to sort out online. Work from home Fibre broadband makes working from home fast and effective. Working from home may mean you can work more flexibly and enjoy a better work/life balance. You could even consider setting up your own business from home as with fibre broadband you will have access to customers worldwide from your own kitchen table! 10

11 Being able to see my new grandchild in Australia on Skype and being able to talk face to face to my daughter is like a dream come true I have started up my own business and it s absolutely amazing. None of my clients could guess I am based here in Mauchline. The service I can provide is as good as if I were in a city office With five of us in the family, and the kids spending hours on Facebook or online gaming, it was a nightmare until we got fibre broadband. Now we can all be online with great speeds, no problem at all 11

12 >>> High speed fibre Broadband for Scotland >>> Local Communities will be Stronger! Across Scotland, local communities will become better connected and more inclusive, creating more opportunities and improving the wellbeing of their residents. Easier access to better healthcare Great new innovations such as more frequent health monitoring thanks to fibre broadband will make it easier to take greater control of the way in which we manage our health. It means you will be able to access care, without always having to travel away from your local community. More interactive communities There will be interactive online notice boards and forums where residents can more easily share skills and information with each other, reducing isolation and bringing everyone in the community closer together. More businesses in the community With faster connections, it will be easier to keep and expand businesses in our local communities, as businesses will be able to operate just as effectively, regardless of where they are based. Increased elderly independence The elderly are likely to be safer in their own homes with the help of better communications and webcams. For many, this will mean they can stay safely in their own homes for longer rather than having to move into a nursing home. Community groups Community groups can make more use of social media and their websites to improve their own communications and services, for example through using video and videoconferencing. This will help them become more effective and stay at the heart of the community. Let s get on... get involved! The Scottish Government wants everyone in Scotland to have the confidence and skills to do things online. The charity and voluntary sector has a central role to play in helping make this happen, so the Scottish Council of Voluntary Organisations is leading a national movement to promote digital participation in Scotland. If you know someone, of any age and background, who is not yet online here is what you can do to get involved. Look on the Digital Scotland website to find places near you that can help then help us spread the word! To find out more about this exciting programme, visit More vibrant local communities With flexible working and more people working from home, villages will be busier during the day, meaning that local businesses and services are more likely to thrive. If you are not travelling away to work, you are more likely to use local shops and local pubs, helping keep these businesses and services going. 12

13 With fibre broadband, we are making more use of video and social media, which means that we are in much closer contact with everyone we serve I always know what is going on locally now and I never feel cut off Since fibre broadband came to our village, we can see that more people are going to be able to work from home, which is going to help keep our local shops and pubs going too 13

14 >>> High speed fibre Broadband for Scotland >>> Real life stories SuperControl: A fast growing business in Castle Douglas SuperControl is an online booking system and management tool used by holiday accommodation businesses in the UK and in more than 30 countries worldwide. The company is based in Castle Douglas and has recently upgraded to fibre broadband. Owner Robert Kennedy explains: With over 20,000 properties using our system around the globe, our business depends on a massive amount of data, which has been stored at remote servers. Now, we can fire the data back to our own servers in house overnight. This was simply not possible before we had a fibre connection and this alone will save us thousands of pounds a year. What s more, our virtual private network is completely reliable now we have superfast fibre speeds. One of our developers lives in Poland and now he can work as part of our team just as effectively as if he were in our office in Scotland. It s also great to know I can connect to all our files and office systems from my mobile with absolute reliability, when I am travelling. We are also excited about being able to make more use of Skype in future. With over a thousand clients around the world, it will be brilliant to be able to speak to them face to face. This will help us build a more personal relationship than we have been able to do so far and will be a terrific boost for the business. Of course, making more use of online video conferencing rather than telephone calls is also likely to lead to big cost savings too. Now that we have superfast fibre connectivity, the world really is our oyster. We can continue to expand the business and run a successful global business from our base here in Castle Douglas. We will be able to make significant cost savings as a direct result of connecting to fibre broadband 14

15 We are on our way! Look at the difference fibre broadband is already making to people and businesses in Scotland. Silver City Surfers: Opening up a whole new world of possibilities Silver City Surfers is an innovative charity bringing digital skills to people aged over 55 in Aberdeen and the North East of Scotland. Silver City Surfers are now benefiting from a high speed fibre connection at the Salvation Army Citadel in Aberdeen, where hundreds of people attend their sessions each year. Co-ordinator Liz Hunter says: With the fibre broadband connection, the internet experience is dramatically improved. For example, the quality of the video on Skype or FaceTime is significantly better. It makes no difference how many people are online at the same time everyone can still enjoy the same terrific high speed connection. Liz continues: Fibre broadband is bringing a whole range of brilliant benefits. It is helping older people stay connected with family and friends, even if they live thousands of miles apart. It also helps everyone stay on top of the news, explore their interests and learn new skills, as well as access government services and shop around for the best deals for just about anything. A world of possibilities is just a click away, and high speed fibre broadband is making the whole experience even better. One lady who has experienced the benefits first hand is Pam Lawrence. In her early eighties, Pam now uses her ipad to keep in regular contact with her daughter and grandchildren, who live in Washington DC, USA. Pam says: I think it is wonderful. It is fantastic to be able to see and speak to my family face to face through video chats on FaceTime. With fibre broadband, the video quality is superb, it s just like we are all in the same room together. Ann Leith, who is in her early eighties, agrees: A friend of mine in his early nineties uses Skype to stay in touch with family in Australia and says it is great. It would be lovely to chat face to face with my friends on video in this way, so Skype is something I plan to try out. With high speed fibre broadband, the quality should be brilliant. Chris Wright adds: Although I am now 67, I have a young approach to things and I want to keep on learning all the time. I am now teaching myself Raspberry Pi online. High speed fibre broadband will make it easier for everyone to stay abreast of what is going on and follow their passions. Liz concludes: Fibre broadband is having a fantastic impact on wellbeing and quality of life for people of all ages and backgrounds in Scotland. It is opening doors and bridging distances, helping people fulfil their potential and stay connected. 15

16 >>> High speed fibre Broadband for Scotland >>> It s a huge challenge - but we can do it! With Scotland s mountainous landscape and scattered rural communities, bringing fibre broadband to 95% of premises is not going to be easy! This is a really complex and challenging engineering project. In fact, it s the most ambitious fibre infrastructure project yet undertaken in Europe. So the engineers have their work cut out as they plan the best way to bring fibre broadband to as many parts of Scotland as possible, as quickly as possible. Fibre broadband will be laid right across Scotland in our seven cities, our town centres, our national parks and our most remote communities. In total, there will be nearly 30,000 km of new fibre cable to be laid, as well as 400 km of subsea 400km cabling and over 3,000 Sub-sea cables new road-side cabinets to being laid be built. No-one expects it to be plain sailing and our engineers will doubtless be faced with all kinds of challenges along the way. But with Scotland s proud tradition of engineering innovation, we expect that our programme will come up with some great pioneering solutions that may even be adopted by other rural areas worldwide in future. 30,000km Fibre optic cable being laid An engineering project on this scale can t all be completed overnight. It will take until the end of 2017 for the work to be completed and for Scotland to reap the full rewards of fibre broadband. In the meantime, you can check whereandwhen to find out more about the availability of fibre broadband in your area. Or sign up to receive our newsletter, which will keep you up to speed with the latest developments from Digital Scotland Superfast Broadband. 2 projects Which together form the highest value telecoms infrastructure investment in Europe Highlands and Islands Rest of Scotland 750,000 Homes and businesses 3000 New roadside cabinets 1:20 Creating 20 return for every 1 invested What about the 5% that are hard to reach? The Digital Scotland Superfast Broadband Project has been designed to deliver the very best result for Scotland, reaching as many people as possible, as quickly as possible, within the available budget. Around 95% of homes and businesses will be able to access fibre broadband by the end of 2017, but we won t reach everyone. There will be premises which are too far from the new networks, or where the numbers of homes in an area are so low and so scattered that there simply isn t a cost effective way of delivering fibre services. However, the project will still be of benefit to the 5% of people we can t reach just now. The new fibre backbone will reach deep into our communities and will make finding alternative ways to get better broadband much more likely in future. The hardest to reach areas will not be forgotten, and there are a range of initiatives already started to find solutions. As well as investigating several ways of boosting the available funding, the Scottish Government has created Community Broadband Scotland to work with areas that are looking unlikely to be connected to fibre broadband within the current Digital Scotland Superfast Broadband programme. 16

17 So how do I order fibre broadband? It s easy! Once your area has been connected to fibre broadband, you can order it through your choice of internet service provider. You will be amazed at what great value fibre broadband can be. Prices for a high speed fibre broadband connection are far lower than you might imagine. In fact, sometimes the cost can be even less than a standard broadband connection! Some internet service providers also offer package deals, which merge your phone, TV and internet bill into one monthly payment. So check the interactive map at to see if fibre broadband is available in your area. To order a fibre broadband service, contact an Internet Service Provider. You can either contact your current broadband provider or choose a new one. If you would like some advice to help you find the internet service provider that best suits your needs, check out the price comparisons provided by Ofcom at

18 >>> High speed fibre Broadband for Scotland >>> Our Partnership This is a pioneering partnership between the public and private sectors that will create a world class communications infrastructure in Scotland. The high speed fibre broadband network is being deployed for the Scottish Government and its partners through a massive engineering project by Openreach, BT s local network division, which provides and maintains the infrastructure used by more than 500 service providers. Look out for the Openreach vans right across Scotland as they carry out the work! The fibre infrastructure will be open to all communications services providers, so affordable high speed broadband can be available to the people and businesses of Scotland from their choice of provider. The Scottish Government is working with Highlands and Islands Enterprise, local authorities, our enterprise agencies and others, to promote awareness of the benefits of fibre broadband and encourage people to make the most of the fantastic opportunities it brings. All our stakeholders are proud to be part of this exciting initiative, which will bring economic and social transformation to Scotland. Funded by the Scottish Government, the European Union, BT, UK Government through BDUK, Highlands and Islands Enterprise and all of Scotland s local authorities, Digital Scotland Superfast Broadband is public-private partnership at its best. Of course, we don t have enough space to quote all of them, but here are the kind of things our partners are saying about Digital Scotland Superfast Broadband and what this innovative programme means to them. The scale of the challenge of delivering fibre broadband into rural Scotland outstrips any other part of the UK and will generate significant economic benefits, including new jobs and increased productivity. This is an important step towards ensuring that Scotland has world-class digital connectivity by Our investment, and that of our partners in the project, will extend access to superfast broadband across Scotland. This will be a key factor in ensuring Scotland s longterm economic prosperity Deputy First Minister, John Swinney At BT Scotland we ve recruited hundreds more engineers to help deploy and install fibre services, we ve laid thousands of miles of new cables and the new network is really taking shape. As a company at the heart of Scotland, we re proud to be part of a broad reaching partnership, where organisations and authorities across Scotland are all pulling together, to build a digital nation which can take its place on the world stage Brendan Dick, Director, BT Scotland We re investing in this project because we are committed to helping individuals and local businesses take advantage of the benefits superfast broadband can bring. In order to make Fife the best place to do business we recognise the need to help local companies do business, as well as ensuring locals have access to online council services this means the whole community can benefit from this investment Deputy Council Leader Lesley Laird, Fife Council 18

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20 Check out our interactive map to find out more about the availability of fibre broadband in your area. To place an order for fibre broadband, contact your current Internet Service Provider or contact a new one. It s your choice! To be one of the first to know about all the latest developments at Digital Scotland Superfast Broadband, visit our website, follow us on Facebook and Twitter, or sign up to our regular facebook.com/scotlandsuperfast DSSB BR