A grant of almost £50,000 from the Council was provided to Bandeath Industrial Estate Business Association (BIEBA) to help upgrade the local network to a gigabit broadband service in excess of 100 Mbps.
The new network uses Facebook’s Terragraph technology to deliver high-speed internet to the units – one of the first times this innovative wireless system has been used in a UK business park.
Bandeath Industrial Estate is located in the small village of Throsk to the east of Stirling. A wide range of businesses and organisations are based there, including the Council’s Bandeath Dog Shelter.
Fantastic news
Convener of Stirling Council’s Finance and Economy Committee, Cllr Margaret Brisley said: “Fast and reliable internet access is essential for businesses to unleash their full potential and boost growth so the completion of this project is fantastic news for Bandeath-based companies and the wider Stirling economy.
“We are delighted to have worked in partnership with the local business community to deliver a bespoke broadband solution that meets their needs using state-of-the-art technology.
“We have already received ‘paw-sitive’ feedback on the new network from our Dog Shelter and other companies on the estate.
“Collaborating with rural residents and businesses has been key to the programme’s success so far and we will continue this approach when rolling out this life-changing connectivity to more of Stirling’s rural communities.”
Future developments on a 20-acre site north of the industrial estate will also be able to access the vastly improved connectivity.
Significant benefits to businesses
Mark Smith Operations Manager of CMM Pools, a swimming pool repair and maintenance company based at Bandeath, said: “The new network has made a huge difference to our business as previously our internet speed was very slow and we struggled to work online efficiently.
“Our administrative tasks and online client management system are wholly dependent on our broadband connection, and the ultrafast speed means we can work much more efficiently and make better use of our time.
“This project will deliver significant benefits to businesses in the estate and is the result of a really positive partnership with the Association, Stirling Council and the supplier – a big thanks to everyone involved.”
Stirling Council’s Rural Broadband Programme helps rural communities develop alternative ultrafast broadband solutions by providing funding as well as technical and project management support from a Rural Broadband Officer.
There are now 11 completed projects in rural areas of Stirling as a result of the scheme, with over 1,000 homes and businesses securing ultrafast connectivity.
Terragraph networks are built on very high-speed resilient equipment, where a small low power device is mounted on a building and communicates with units to form a mesh wireless network. Stirling-based provider Briskona designed, built and will manage the network.
Background info:
The 11 communities and business parks to secure ultrafast connectivity via Stirling Council’s Rural Broadband Programme are Balquhidder, Argaty & Kilbryde, Stockiemuir, Trossachs (Brig o’ Turk), Carron Valley, Auchinleck, Lochend and Dykehead, Aberfoyle, Thornhill, Manor Farm Business Park (Blairlogie) and Bandeath Industrial Estate.
Stirling Council’s Rural Broadband programme won the the Scottish Government’s Delivering Excellence Award at the 2019 COSLA Excellence Awards as well as the 2019 UK-wide Independent Network Co-operative Association (INCA) Gold Prize.
More information on Stirling’s award-winning digital infrastructure can be found here.
