Broadband Business Survey of the Western Isles |
17 August 2005 |
| Comhairle nan Eilean Siar and Western Isles Enterprise are carrying out a broadband survey of businesses in the Western Isles over the next few weeks. This survey is being carried out as part of the transnational “Broadband In Rural and Remote Areas” (BIRRA) project. The survey is a mail questionnaire on the attitudes of businesses to broadband and information and communication technology (ICT) and the barriers to the greater use of such technology by businesses.
Four hundred small and medium sized local businesses have been selected to participate in the survey which is due to take place over the coming weeks. The survey, which is being conducted in each of the partner countries, will seek to discover how businesses are currently using broadband and technology, how they would like to use broadband and technology in the future and what the barriers are to them achieving this. In the Scottish e-business survey of 2004 the Western Isles had the highest internet connection rate (93%) of any local enterprise area in Scotland. The Scotland average for internet connection rates was only 72%. However, in the same report it showed that the Western Isles has one of the lowest broadband connection rates, with only 6% of connecting organisation having a broadband connection. The Scotland average for business broadband connections was 39%. Donnie Macaulay, WIE chief executive said: “The provision of Broadband to the business community throughout the Western Isles is an important objective for us. This project looks to bring the experience of other regions to our attention so that we can learn from the best examples. Local companies can then experience the business benefits that are being enjoyed in these other peripheral areas, and help develop their own business as a result”. The main issues affecting the current level of adoption for the vast majority of non-broadband users in the Western Isles has been the lack of broadband connection outside the Stornoway area. These issues are soon to be addressed for the majority of businesses in the Western Isles with the rollout of ADSL to 13 rural exchanges by BT and the Connected Communities Wireless Broadband Project, which will provide services in the remaining 21 areas. The Stornoway exchange has had broadband since May last year. Chairman of the Comhairle’s Sustainable Development Committee, Councillor Archie Campbell said: “Broadband has been identified as a key economic driver for economic regeneration in the Islands. The increase in the availability of Broadband in the Western Isles is a welcome development towards a higher level of accessibility for our communities. The BIRRA project will be an important further step towards realising the full potential of Broadband". The BIRRA project is a transnational undertaking between Highlands & Islands of Scotland, Northern Sweden, Iceland and two regions of Northern Finland, which seeks to learn from best practice in the use of broadband in rural and remote areas. For further information contact: Chris Shields, Project Co-ordinator (Broadband In Rural and Remote Areas), Comhairle nan Eilean Siar, Stornoway, on 01851 709205. Nigel Scott Tel: 01851 709389 (Work) |
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