Drinking water pipes have been used to deliver high speed broadband to a remote community in Orkney.
Connectivity specialist CloudNet used the community-owned water authority’s existing infrastructure as a more efficient and less disruptive alternative to conventional cable laying.
The fibre cable is delivered through a second pipe housed within the drinking water network.
Papa Westray became the first to use this approach successfully because the water system is owned by the community, streamlining the process of gaining permissions and causing less disruption to the island’s roads.
Nearly every business and resident in the area can now receive speeds comparable to less rural areas of Scotland through the Reaching 100% (R100) programme.
Business Minister Richard Lochhead said: “This ingenious approach represents a less disruptive way of delivering faster connectivity to all on Papa Westray. Scotland is famous the world over for its innovation. We are working with rural communities in the most imaginative ways possible to bring faster broadband to some of the hardest to reach parts of the country.
“This project showcases engineering creativity at its best and makes it easier for residents to do business and access essential services such as health and education.”
“This will also help attract people to live and work on Papa Westray. Under the £600 million R100 programme, the Scottish Government is helping deliver a fair, green and growing economy for all our regions.”
Remote sensors placed in the water pipe provide a hi-tech way to monitor the island’s water quality.
Papa Westray Water Board supply engineer Ian Cursiter said: “Without this high speed connectivity, I wouldn’t be able to remotely monitor my farm or the water network for the island.
“The real benefit in monitoring the water network for levels of usage, pressure and so on, is providing a much more efficient water system, which will ultimately be more environmentally friendly and cost effective to islanders.
“I’ve lived on Papa Westray my whole life and I’m delighted to see connectivity that allows the islanders to access the same facilities as those on the mainland.”