Press Release
Kicking off LBN’s 2024 plans it was announced that they are deploying their full-fibre broadband network across the Black Isle. This further expansion is part of LBN’s plans to give the entirety of the Highlands access to ultrafast broadband within the next three years.
LBN who have already built network and provide services across much of the Highlands from Evanton up to Helmsdale including Alness, Tain and Invergordon will commence building the network on the Black Isle in February.
The new network build will tackle the challenge of poor broadband speeds and unreliable connectivity experienced by many throughout rural Scotland. Trading as Highland Broadband homes in the area will be able to access a range of competitively priced broadband packages with speeds ranging from 100Mbps up to 2Gbps; LBN also offers social tariff products for anyone who is in receipt of a universal credit or on a state pension.
Gavin Rodgers, CEO of LBN:
“It is thrilling to be able to continue to expand our ultrafast broadband network throughout the Highlands. While the Black Isle is the first new build of 2024, we will shortly announce further expansion plans which will further close the digital divide during 2024.
“One of the most encouraging things about being the leading broadband provider in the Highlands is the reception we get from customers. In terms of data usage our customers in the Highlands use twice the UK national average showing the level of appetite there is for gigabit capable digital connectivity.”
Kate Forbes, MSP for Skye, Lochaber and Badenoch, said:
“With digital connectivity becoming an increasing necessity, access to fast and reliable broadband is more important than ever.
“I hope that improved connections will continue to unlock key opportunities for those households and businesses on the Black Isle and the wider Highland digital economy.”
ENDS
For Lothian Broadband Networks (LBN) media enquiries, please contact:
Sara Johnson, Senior Manager Brand & Experience
T: 07948 505322
E: sara.johnson@lothianbroadband.com
Notes to editors – LBN
LBN is the parent company of the Highland & Lothian Broadband brands and is Scotland’s leading rural fibre company and currently provide broadband services across East Lothian, Fife, Stirling, and the Highlands with plans to extend their service into other areas of Scotland throughout 2024 and beyond.
The company is led by experienced industry executive Gavin Rodgers. Gavin was formerly head of a national fibre delivery organisation at Virgin Media and has a record of deploying fibre at scale.
LBN deploys XGS-PON technology to deliver fibre-to-the-premise (FTTP) with symmetrical upload and download connection speeds of up to 10 Gigabits per second (Gbps). This compares with BT/Openreach’s fibre-to-the-cabinet (FTTC) product which delivers speeds of typically less than 40Mbps download and 20Mbps upload [source: Think Broadband].