In a groundbreaking initiative, the remote Scottish island of Papa Westray in Orkney has become the first community in the UK to receive high-speed broadband through its drinking water pipes. This innovative approach has successfully connected nearly every business and resident on the island to broadband speeds comparable to less rural areas of Scotland.
The project, part of the Scottish Government’s Reaching 100% (R100) programme, was implemented by connectivity specialist CloudNet. The company utilised the existing infrastructure of the community-owned water authority to deliver fiber-optic cables through a second pipe housed within the drinking water network.
This method proved to be a more efficient and less disruptive alternative to conventional cable-laying techniques. The success of this approach was largely due to the community ownership of the water system, which streamlined the process of obtaining permissions and minimised disruption to the island’s roads.
The new broadband network offers multiple benefits to the island’s approximately 90 residents. It enables remote monitoring of livestock via CCTV, facilitates home healthcare check-ups through video calls, and supports tourism infrastructure such as accommodation booking systems.
An additional advantage of this innovative solution is the installation of remote sensors in the water pipes. These sensors provide a high-tech method for monitoring the island’s water quality, contributing to a more efficient and environmentally friendly water system.
The project, funded by the Scottish Government, is part of the £600 million R100 programme aimed at improving broadband speeds in remote and rural areas.
Business Minister Richard Lochhead said: “This ingenious approach represents a less disruptive way of delivering faster connectivity to all on Papa Westray. Scotland is famous the world over for its innovation. We are working with rural communities in the most imaginative ways possible to bring faster broadband to some of the hardest to reach parts of the country.
“This project showcases engineering creativity at its best and makes it easier for residents to do business and access essential services such as health and education.”
“This will also help attract people to live and work on Papa Westray. Under the £600 million R100 programme, the Scottish Government is helping deliver a fair, green and growing economy for all our regions.”
This pioneering use of water infrastructure for broadband delivery showcases Scotland’s commitment to innovative solutions for connecting its most remote communities. The success on Papa Westray could pave the way for similar implementations in other hard-to-reach areas, potentially revolutionising rural broadband access across the UK.
