Orkney Island of Papa Westray Receives Broadband Through Water Pipes in UK First

Residents and businesses on the Orkney island of Papa Westray are now accessing the internet via the water network, marking what is understood to be a first for the UK. This has been achieved by installing cables inside existing water pipes, leveraging the island’s community-owned water system, which provides full fibre broadband to nearly all properties. This innovative approach enables local inhabitants to perform activities previously unavailable, such as participating in remote medical appointments and online gaming. Expectations are that this development will draw individuals to reside and work on the island, and that similar water network infrastructure could facilitate broadband delivery in other remote locations. Previously, Papa Westray experienced inadequate connectivity, characterized by internet speeds that were either sluggish or entirely absent. This situation restricted the capabilities of the island’s approximately 90 residents. The installation of the network, executed by local contractors CloudNet, spanned approximately eight months. The internet connection first arrives in Papa Westray through a radio link from the adjacent isle of Westray, subsequently being disseminated throughout the island via the water pipes. The fibre optic cable itself is conveyed through a secondary pipe situated within the drinking water infrastructure. Papa Westray achieved success with this method primarily due to its community-owned water system, which rendered the installation process a more efficient and less intrusive option compared to traditional cable laying techniques. Ian Cursiter, a Water Board supply engineer and farmer residing in Papa Westray, has been a lifelong inhabitant of the island. The new broadband service now enables him, for the first time, to utilize the same amenities available in other locations. He can now observe calves being born from his bedroom, which facilitates additional rest. “If you’re disturbing them when they’re calving sometimes they just stop and they look at you like they want to get on with it, so that’s one of the good things.” “We had an analogue system for one or two years but the cameras didn’t seem to last very well. The digital side of things is so much better, I find that anyway.” The camera’s 360-degree movement capability allows Mr. Cursiter to observe activities from every perspective. He participated in the broadband installation and described it as “amazing and different.” Furthermore, the system reduces the likelihood of a calf dying, as Mr. Cursiter can closely monitor their condition. He considers the expense of installing the cameras to be “worth it” if it contributes to saving a calf’s life. Additionally, remote sensors embedded within the water pipe offer an advanced method for monitoring the island’s water quality. CloudNet secured funding for this undertaking via the Reaching 100% (R100) programme, an initiative of the Scottish government. Greg Whitton, Managing Director of CloudNet, stated that the company was “proud” to have completed the first successful commercial project of its type in the UK, serving the most remote island in Orkney. “The benefits to fibre in the water is you don’t need to excavate and you can run over a kilometre without having to do any land. You’re just utilising the water network to provide fibre to properties at home,” he said. Mr. Whitton noted that the island had lagged in internet speed, expressing satisfaction that a solution is now in place. He acknowledged the difficulties involved in ensuring the system’s design and installation were suitable for the island. “I think with the help of the islanders it’s been a big challenge because we’ve learnt a lot through the programme. But I think the uplift and success of it has been really good.”