Unst is small, remote and famously windswept – home to just over 600 people and closer to Norway than mainland Scotland. Getting modern connectivity here has never been easy. The new full fibre network had to travel from the main exchange at Sullom Voe, cross two subsea cables, and then be boosted at Uyeasound before finally reaching every corner of the island.
That means families, schools and small businesses in this remote outpost now have the same gigabit-capable internet as people in Scotland’s big cities. For residents, it’s nothing short of transformational: faster streaming, reliable video calls with family, remote working, and the ability to run businesses online without connection worries.
Business Minister Richard Lochhead described the project as “a remarkable achievement” and proof of the government’s commitment to connecting even the most far-flung communities. He said reliable internet is now vital for “small businesses, remote working and attracting investment.”
Openreach’s Robert Thorburn added that the upgrade means residents can now shop around for the best broadband deals, but reminded people that “upgrades don’t happen automatically – households need to place an order to benefit.”
Full fibre is not just faster – it’s more reliable. The new network allows multiple devices to stream, game and work at the same time without slowdown, and it future-proofs Unst for decades to come.
