SSE Enterprise Telecoms was awarded the Dark Fibre project for Aberdeenshire Council, NHS Grampian and Aberdeen City Council in March 2020. The project spans 275km across the Aberdeenshire region and is being rolled out in stages from now, throughout 2021, and into 2022. It will help to deliver improved public services to key public sector locations in a number of towns around Aberdeen city.
Councillor Andy Kille, leader of Aberdeenshire Council, said, “Any steps taken towards better connectivity for Aberdeenshire are hugely welcome and we all back the work taken to roll out this vital part of the City Region Deal project. The benefits of access to better digital services will have a lasting economic impact and will make a difference to businesses in Aberdeenshire. This will, in turn, benefit the people of Aberdeenshire more generally.”
Michael Matheson, cabinet secretary for transport, infrastructure and connectivity, added, “I am pleased to see the progress of this enabling digital project. By connecting Aberdeenshire Council sites to the fibre, it will improve the delivery of some of our vital public services such as education, health and transport. All of this will contribute to the Scottish Government’s mission to drive a sustainable and economic recovery for the region.”
SSE Enterprise Telecoms has delivered the first phase of the project on time and on budget, despite the added difficulties posed by Covid-19. This segment is one of six implementation stages connecting 190 public sector sites across the Aberdeenshire region in total. The initial batch of 22 sites will benefit from full fibre connectivity once lit by a WAN provider.
The company said this is critically important in the current environment, where more organisations are having to work remotely and are reliant on robust, secure connectivity to keep people connected and ensure the smooth running of operations.
Martin Samuel, public sector director at SSE Enterprise Telecoms, said, “This project will bring best-in-class connectivity to the region, during a time when it’s most needed and will help to futureproof the area for years to come. Despite the challenges that Covid-19 has posed, working in partnership with the Aberdeenshire team, we’ve been able to successfully deliver the first phase of the project - on time and on budget. We’re also well on track to deliver 41 sites, just out from the city centre, as part of segment two by Spring 2021.”