2 days ago
- Business
- The Herald Scotland
High-speed broadband collaboration for Scottish homes and businesses
Emtelle, which is based in Hawick with manufacturing sites in Scotland, Germany, Denmark, Abu Dhabi and the US, said the collaboration will see it supply duct, sub-duct and fibre infrastructure for new full-fibre networks to enable 'fibre to the premises' speeds of up to 10 gigabits per second.
The infrastructure is being supplied to GoFibre as part of the Edinburgh-based company's fourth contract under the £5 billion Project Gigabit. This contract is worth £105m, and will see GoFibre deliver high-speed broadband connections and download speeds to around 63,000 residents and businesses, in parts of the city of Aberdeen and elsewhere in Aberdeenshire, as well as in Angus, Dundee, the Highlands, Moray, and Perth and Kinross, Emtelle noted. The first connections are due to be delivered by summer 2026.
The Scottish Government has noted it plays "a key role in delivering Project Gigabit procurements in Scotland, working closely with the UK Government to deploy funding committed to connect some of the hardest to reach geographies across the UK".
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Emtelle, which describes itself as a 'global leader' in the supply of passive network infrastructure for high-speed connectivity, has partnered with GoFibre on its commercial network build, and to deliver previous contracts under Project Gigabit.
GoFibre's network now extends to more than 120,000 premises, and covers in excess of 30 'hard-to-reach' areas in Scotland and the north of England.
Emtelle and GoFibre, which was founded in the Scottish Borders town of Duns, joined forces to enhance digital connectivity for 8,000 residents and businesses in Hawick.
The Hawick-based company noted it had played a key role by manufacturing and supplying the duct, sub-duct, and fibre needed to deliver full-fibre connectivity to the Scottish Borders town, supporting GoFibre's regional rollout.
Gavin Faulds, chief commercial officer of Emtelle, said: 'We are delighted to be strengthening our partnership with GoFibre in order to bring full-fibre connectivity to more than 60,000 premises in the north-east of Scotland.
'As a major Scottish employer, we firmly believe Scotland needs a first-class digital network across every town and village in order to reduce the digital divide and boost economic growth. That is why we are committed to improving its networks, especially for those in rural regions who are the hardest to reach.'
He added: 'In the long term, we aim to continue our partnership with GoFibre, and build the infrastructure that further transforms connectivity in both Scotland and the UK.'
GoFibre chief executive Neil Conaghan said: 'Our strategic partnership with Emtelle is an important enabler for GoFibre to deliver our Project Gigabit contract in the north-east of Scotland. GoFibre and Emtelle are both Borders-born, and for two Scottish businesses to play such a crucial role in delivering gigabit connectivity for the country shows the strength of local supply chain. We're glad to have Emtelle as our strategic infrastructure partner.'
