This item was published during the term of a previous administration that ended in April 2007
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Highlands and Islands gets connected
27/03/2007
Schools, libraries, museums and leisure centres, across the Highlands and Islands, will benefit from high-speed internet access as a result of a £70 million contract announced by First Minister Jack McConnell today.
The contract for roll-out of the Pathfinder project has been awarded to THUS PLC and is expected to be completed within two years. It will deliver broadband connections to 395 schools, allowing pupils and teachers the chance to research and learn at a global level.
Fifty two libraries are also set to benefit, along with museums, leisure centres and other public facilities - bringing public access to modern learning. Council offices will also be among those connected - allowing greater efficiency and improved public service.
First Minister Jack McConnell, in a video conference with pupils at Crown Primary School in Inverness, said:
"Learning, communicating and connecting faster will be vital to the future prosperity and growth of Scotland. This project will help to stimulate these skills right across the Highlands and Islands.
"Technology is changing the landscape of learning. Rural schools will no longer be remote from shared tools. Pupils will be given the benefits that information technology and video links can offer. New learning materials and communities will be opened up, and children will have the opportunity to develop their understanding in the context of a wider world.
"For the broader community this project will bring sharper delivery of public services, as state-of-the art connections bring co-operative links and efficiencies.
"That's why I'm delighted that today we have taken another step towards keeping Scotland on the map by getting Scotland on the net."
The Executive has funded £63 million and the balance has been met by Highland Council in partnership with councils in Argyll and Bute, Moray, Orkney and Shetland.
The initiative complements the Broadband for Scotland's Rural and Remote Areas initiative project, led by the Scottish Executive and its enterprise agencies, which has brought broadband access to all Scottish communities.
THUS is one of the UK's leading network operators, and it specialises in the corporate and SME markets. The Company's business has grown significantly as it has made the transition from a regional to a national, business-focused data and telecoms service provider.