Research and analysis

Shetland/North Isles Fibre PSAT Case Study

Published 10 September 2026

1. Overview of the North Isles Fibre project

The North Isles Fibre project was a £1.9m Local Full Fibre Networks(LFFN) project developed to address significant connectivity challenges in Shetland’s northernmost islands, Yell and Unst. While Shetland Islands Council had previously developed a fibre network across the mainland, this infrastructure did not extend to the northern isles. The project therefore aimed to extend the Council’s fibre backbone beyond the mainland for the first time, including resilient fibre crossings and island-wide fibre routes.

The project connected 21 public sector sites across the two islands, including schools, health centres, care homes, council depots and ferry terminals. Delivery was completed in 2021.

Although classified by BDUK as a Public Sector Anchor Tenancy(PSAT) project, the delivery model differed from most PSAT schemes. Rather than procuring connectivity services from a telecoms provider, Shetland Islands Council commissioned the construction of new fibre infrastructure directly and retained ownership of the network. The project was delivered by the Council, with in-house services responsible for designing, integrating and operating the infrastructure as part of the wider council-owned fibre network. This involved collaboration between Council services including Economic Development, ICT, Roads and Estate Operations.

2. Focus of the case study

This case study focuses primarily on the benefits delivered to public sector sites connected through the LFFN-funded North Isles Fibre project. This focus was agreed during an initial scoping discussion with Shetland Islands Council, which confirmed that the main objective of the project was to provide improved connectivity for essential public services on Yell and Unst, rather than to deliver wider strategic or organisational benefits for the Council itself.

The case study therefore concentrates on the impacts for key public services on the islands, particularly schools, local health centres and care homes. These were identified by the Council as the public service facilities that had experienced the most significant benefits from the improved connectivity delivered through the project.

In addition, the case study considers the benefits for two other organisations that are connected to the network: SaxaVord Spaceport   and Scottish and Southern Electricity Networks (SSE), the electricity distribution network operator for the north of Scotland. Although these are not public services, they are included because energy networks represent a critical public utility, and SaxaVord has become a strategically important economic asset for Shetland.

The findings presented in this case study are based on interviews with seven stakeholders. These included representatives from Shetland Islands Council (covering economic development, care services and a local primary school), NHS Shetland, SSE and SaxaVord Spaceport.

Shetland Islands Council also identified benefits for a number of other services or organsiations connected through the project, including the council’s ferry operations serving Yell and Unst and a Ministry of Defence site on Unst. It was not possible to arrange interviews with these stakeholders during the research period. Their benefits are therefore described briefly and are based on second-hand accounts provided by other interviewees.

3. Context

Yell and Unst are the two northernmost inhabited islands in Shetland and, together, form the northernmost inhabited part of the British Isles. The islands are home to small, dispersed communities with a combined population of around 1,500 people, and support a range of local industries including aquaculture, fisheries, agriculture and transportation.

Many services used by residents of Yell and Unst are located on the Shetland Mainland, particularly in Lerwick. Accessing these services typically requires multiple ferry journeys and road travel, meaning that a round trip can take most of a day. Where services are not available in Lerwick – for example certain specialist health services – residents must travel to mainland Scotland, usually by air. This geography makes the availability and reliability of local services particularly important for island communities.

4. Schools

Two primary schools and two junior high schools in Unst and Yell were connected via the LFFN funded North Isles project. In addition, the proximity of the fibre route from Graven in the North Mainland enabled Mossbank Primary School on the mainland to be connected.

For this case study it was only possible to interview one of the primary schools; Burravoe Primary School.

4.1 Previous challenges with connectivity

Prior to the North Isles Fibre project, Burravoe Primary experienced a number of significant connectivity challenges which affected both classroom learning and day-to-day administration. The internet connection available to the school was slow and unreliable, making it difficult to support routine digital activities within lessons.

The interviewee described the connection as very basic and unable to cope with multiple pupils working online at the same time. As a result, internet access was not something teachers could rely on when planning lessons.

“It was much slower. It was very basic. It couldn’t handle multiple children working online at the same time. It was… a struggle.”

The school also experienced frequent service interruptions. These limitations meant that teachers could not depend on live online activities as part of their lessons. Video calls and live sessions were particularly difficult to deliver, often requiring cameras to be turned off or sessions to run with minimal interaction in order to maintain a stable connection.

“You may have to do it with your camera off. You may have to do it in silence… because there was no guarantee that your connection could actually support what was going on.”

Poor connectivity also limited opportunities for collaboration with other schools. While the school sought to participate in joint lessons or online activities with other schools in Shetland and further afield, the reliability of the connection meant that these activities could not always be delivered as planned.

Importantly, these technical limitations occurred despite Burravoe Primary having a strong commitment to digital learning. The school had already achieved a Digital Schools Award prior to the fibre upgrade, demonstrating that digital teaching practices were embedded within the classroom and that pupils were confident using digital tools. However, the poor connectivity meant that staff often had to work around technical constraints rather than fully integrating digital learning into lessons.

Connectivity challenges also affected routine administrative tasks. Everyday activities such as sending emails or accessing online systems could be slow and unreliable, adding friction to routine school operations.

4.2 Improvements enabled by the North Isles Fibre project 

The interviewee was highly positive about the impact of the fibre upgrade, describing it as having improved many aspects of school life and significantly expanded the opportunities available to pupils.

“It’s so, so much better… the broadband connection has opened up so many opportunities for the children.”

Reliable, high-quality connectivity

The most significant improvement was the move from a slow and unreliable connection to a stable, high-speed broadband service. Staff reported that the connection now works consistently, allowing teachers to plan lessons with confidence that digital tools will function as expected.

Previously, teachers often needed to prepare alternative activities in case the internet failed. With the fibre connection in place, lessons can now be designed around learning objectives rather than connectivity constraints.

“We’re able to plan and trust that the technology is not going to let us down.”

Live online teaching and remote learning

The improved connectivity has enabled the reliable use of live online teaching, including video calls and interactive lessons. This capability proved particularly important during the COVID-19 pandemic. When schools closed, the school was able to transition immediately to live remote teaching without disruption.

“As soon as the schools closed, we were able to go straight into live teaching… we were having meets with our children multiple times a day, every day to maintain their curriculum.”

Full use of digital learning platforms

The fibre connection has also enabled pupils to make full use of digital learning platforms such as Microsoft Teams, OneNote and Scratch, a visual programming environment used by schools to teach basic coding and computational thinking. Under the previous connection, these tools could not be used effectively when multiple pupils were online at the same time. With the upgraded network, all pupils can now use these platforms simultaneously, allowing digital tools to be integrated fully into classroom activities.

Expanded learning opportunities

Improved connectivity has also opened up new educational opportunities. The school can now participate in live collaboration with other schools and access lessons delivered by external teachers, including Mandarin language lessons provided by teachers based in China. These activities broaden the experiences available to pupils in a small and remote school community.

Improved school administration

Administrative tasks have also become faster and more reliable. Routine activities such as sending emails, uploading documents and completing online forms can now be carried out without the delays previously caused by slow or unstable connections.

Supporting digital skills and responsible technology use

Finally, reliable connectivity has enabled the school to place greater emphasis on developing pupils’ digital skills. This includes teaching pupils how to evaluate online information critically and introducing them to emerging technologies such as artificial intelligence.

Interviewees emphasised that providing pupils with opportunities to engage with digital tools in a structured school environment is an important part of preparing them for future education and work.

“Through school is one of the ways that we can teach them to use them responsibly… they are learning how to judge the truth of a website or news, how to use AI and what that actually means in the classroom.”

Consistency with earlier evaluations

Many of the impacts described above are consistent with findings from earlier BDUK‑commissioned evaluations, including the LFFN Wave One evaluation and the Gigahubs programme, particularly in relation to improvements in reliability, reductions in administrative burden for staff, and the ability of schools to adapt more readily to digital and remote teaching. The consistency of these findings strengthens confidence that these benefits can be expected across schools connected through LFFN more broadly.

At the same time, this case study extends the existing evidence base by reflecting more recent educational priorities. In particular, it highlights how improved connectivity is supporting schools to embed digital literacy within the curriculum, including preparing pupils to engage with emerging technologies and to navigate online information responsibly. This suggests that, beyond enabling delivery, gigabit‑capable connectivity is increasingly relevant to how schools respond to new and evolving challenges.

In addition, unlike earlier evaluations, which have primarily focused on England, this evidence comes from a devolved administration. This suggests that the core school‑level benefits identified through LFFN are not confined to the English policy context and may be generalisable to schools connected through similar programmes in Scotland and other devolved nations.

4.3 Key enablers

The interviewee identified a number of additional factors which meant the school was well positioned to make effective use of the improved connectivity.

• Strong digital culture and leadership – The school had already embedded digital learning within its teaching approach prior to the fibre upgrade and had achieved the Digital Schools Award despite the limitations of the previous connection. Technology was seen as a core learning tool rather than an add-on, supporting literacy, numeracy, collaboration and responsible use of online information. As a result, the improved connectivity enabled existing digital practices to expand rather than requiring a fundamental shift in teaching approach.

• High levels of staff and pupil digital capability – Teachers and pupils were already confident using digital tools and platforms as part of everyday learning. Pupils routinely worked independently online and staff were experienced in delivering lessons using digital resources. This meant that once the network constraints were removed, the school could quickly expand its use of live online learning and collaboration.

• Established digital platforms and access to devices – The school already used the Glow platform, including Microsoft Teams and OneNote, which were familiar to both staff and pupils. In addition, each pupil had access to their own laptop, supported by additional iPads in the classroom, all funded through the school’s own budget. These systems and devices were already in place, meaning the fibre upgrade immediately improved the reliability and scale at which they could be used. Over time, the wider rollout of fibre connections to local homes has also strengthened pupils’ ability to participate in remote or blended learning, although broadband availability datasets indicates that gigabit‑capable coverage across Shetland remains limited. 

4.4 Barriers to fully realising benefits

While the fibre upgrade has significantly improved connectivity within the school, interviewees noted that some barriers remain which limit how far these benefits can be extended.

The main challenge relates to differences in connectivity between schools across Shetland. Although the school now has a strong and reliable connection, not all schools currently have access to the same level of connectivity. There are 22 primary schools and seven secondary schools in Shetland, but only five schools received an upgrade through LFFN.  This can limit opportunities for live collaboration, joint lessons or online activities between schools, as partner schools may not always be able to support video calls or other bandwidth-intensive activities.

“We have a really good strong connection, but not everybody is on a level playing field with us.”

As a result, the school’s own connectivity is not always the limiting factor; rather, it is the wider network of schools that determines what forms of collaboration are possible. This highlights the risk that uneven connectivity across a school system can limit collaboration between institutions and disrupt pupil’s digital learning as they move from one school to another.

The interviewee also noted that home connectivity can still present challenges for some pupils when learning takes place outside the classroom. While this situation is improving as fibre connections are rolled out more widely across Shetland, some households have only recently gained access to reliable broadband. The headteacher explained that as more homes connect to fibre, the reliability of pupils’ participation in remote or blended learning is continuing to improve.

5. Healthcare

5.1 Configuration of health services in North Isles

Two health centres were connected through the North Isles Fibre project: one on Yell and one on Unst. These are the only healthcare facilities on each island and provide a range of general medical services, including GP appointments, treatment for minor injuries, minor surgical procedures and other routine services.

More specialist services are concentrated on the Shetland Mainland. The only hospital serving the islands is the Gilbert Bain Hospital in Lerwick, which provides accident and emergency services as well as medical, surgical and maternity wards. While some outpatient procedures and minor surgery can be carried out within Shetland, more serious or complex cases are typically referred to mainland Scotland, most commonly Aberdeen Royal Infirmary or the Aberdeen Maternity Hospital.

This configuration means that the health centres on Yell and Unst play a particularly important role in responding to urgent medical needs within their local communities. As described by the NHS Shetland interviewee, they effectively operate as a first point of emergency care for island residents:

“They are almost a blue light service for the people of those islands because, you know, come half 10 at night the ferry service stops. So again, we’ve had lots of issues in those places in the past where… a doctor who’s in Unst has to make a clinical decision on a patient as to whether they need to get the helicopter to come and airlift them because that’s not a cheap thing, and you don’t want to be doing that if it’s indigestion and not an actual heart attack.”

5.2 Previous challenges with connectivity

Prior to the North Isles Fibre project, the health centres on Yell and Unst experienced significant connectivity limitations which affected both clinical operations and IT support. These sites were typically reliant on ADSL connections, with download speeds of around 8 Mbps at best and upload speeds of as little as around 0.5 Mbps. This limited bandwidth meant that many modern, cloud-based or real-time systems could not be used effectively.

Connections were also unreliable and unstable. Interviewees reported that services were frequently degraded or lost due to the distance from network exchanges, ageing copper infrastructure and environmental factors such as moisture and corrosion. These issues often led to repeated faults and service interruptions.

The limited capacity of the network also meant that clinical data could not be reliably transmitted between the North Isles and the main hospital in Lerwick or Aberdeen. Diagnostic information such as ECGs and other medical data could not easily be shared, which restricted the ability of clinicians to obtain remote advice or support when making clinical decisions. As the NHS Shetland interviewee explained:

“In the past we couldn’t… get that information down to the hospital and presented to someone who makes a decision or to a national person – the network just couldn’t support that, and the systems weren’t there to deliver them. So it was very difficult and the networks weren’t particularly reliable as well… we’d have a lot of issues in places like Unst and Yell… some of these places are far away from the exchanges and the performance was terrible. So we could never do those things.”

Poor connectivity also created challenges for IT management and support. Remote access tools often did not function reliably over the existing connections, meaning that IT staff frequently had to travel to the islands to resolve relatively minor technical issues. Given the travel distances involved, these trips could take a full day to complete

5.3 Improvements enabled by the North Isles Fibre project

Interviewees emphasised that the LFFN-funded fibre upgrade has fundamentally changed the role that connectivity plays in the operation of the health centres on Yell and Unst. Where connectivity was previously fragile and a frequent operational concern, it is now described as a reliable, high-bandwidth service that staff no longer need to think about in their day-to-day work. Issues that were once common have become rare, effectively turning connectivity from a constraint into a dependable utility for healthcare delivery.

Supporting more care locally

Improved connectivity has enabled more aspects of care to be delivered locally on the islands, reducing the need for patients to travel to Lerwick unnecessarily. For example, some pre-operative assessments can now be carried out locally using digital systems, while diagnostic information can be shared remotely with clinicians in Lerwick or mainland hospitals to support clinical decision-making.  Interviewees noted that faster transfer speeds mean diagnostic files can be accessed and reviewed promptly, reducing delays and failed transmissions that previously limited how digital diagnostics could be used.

Although these changes are still being embedded into routine processes (see barriers below), interviewees reported that they are already reducing some patient travel and the disruption associated with long journeys from the islands. As the NHS Shetland interviewee explained:

“There are definitely direct impacts like that, that has reduced the number of people that are having to make that needless journey to Lerwick.”

Enabling remote consultations and collaboration

The improved network has also made video calls, remote consultations and digital collaboration tools genuinely usable for both clinical and non-clinical purposes. This includes video consultations between clinicians in Unst and Yell and specialists in Lerwick or mainland Scotland, as well as routine staff meetings, training sessions and collaboration via platforms such as Microsoft Teams.

Interviewees noted that these types of tools were effectively unusable prior to the fibre upgrade due to the limited bandwidth and reliability of the previous connections.

Enabling new digital health systems

The improved connectivity is also enabling the deployment of new digital services that would previously not have been viable in the North Isles. One example is a planned rollout of a new community nursing system (“Morse”), described by the interviewee as a mobile-first platform designed to support nurse practitioners working in the community. Because the system is hosted centrally in Lerwick, reliable  connectivity is required for staff to access and update records.

The NHS Shetland interviewee explained that the system would have been very difficult to use on the islands without the fibre network:

“Without the connectivity in Unst it would have been very difficult for those clinical staff to access because the system’s going to be based in Lerwick.”

Mobile connectivity across the islands remains limited, particularly in more remote locations. To address this, NHS Shetland is working with Shetland Islands Council to use wireless infrastructure in other LFFN-connected public buildings to create local hotspots where clinical staff can connect and upload information when needed. As the interviewee explained:

“[If we can provide] more hotspots where I know clinical staff can tap into, in the types of areas they’re going to be… it might not help them if they’re outside Mr Smith’s house, but if Mr Smith’s house is only two minutes from the local school or the local care home, they might be able to drive there and update stuff.” 

Wi-Fi access for staff and patients

The fibre upgrade has also enabled enterprise-grade Wi-Fi within the health centres on Yell and Unst, which had not previously been possible. This allows staff to use mobile devices more effectively within the buildings and supports the rollout of modern digital systems that rely on mobile access.

It has also enabled Wi-Fi access for patients in waiting areas, improving the overall patient experience. While the interviewee described these improvements as relatively small individually, they noted that together they represent an important modernisation of the health centre environment.

Improvements in IT management and resilience

From an IT perspective, the fibre connection was described as transformational. It now allows IT staff to remotely access and manage systems in the North Isles health centres as if the machines were located locally, enabling routine issues to be resolved quickly without the need for travel. This has eliminated many of the time-consuming trips previously required to address minor technical problems, which could previously take a full day due to the travel involved.

The improved connectivity has also enabled the consolidation of local servers and infrastructure into a central data centre. This has improved system resilience and strengthened cybersecurity and backup arrangements, while also delivering cost savings through reductions in physical hardware and associated licensing and infrastructure costs. Interviewees noted that these savings are meaningful within the context of NHS Shetland’s relatively small IT budget. Consolidating infrastructure in this way would also be expected to reduce energy use associated with operating and maintaining local servers.

5.4 Barriers to fully realising benefits

Although the interviewee was able to identify clear improvements in the way healthcare services are delivered on Yell and Unst, they emphasised that several barriers remain which limit how far and how quickly the full benefits of the fibre upgrade can be realised. These barriers are not primarily technical. Instead, they relate to organisational processes, legacy systems and the practical challenges of implementing change.

Clinical processes and service models

Interviewees noted that many healthcare services in Shetland are still organised around traditional models of care that assume patients travel to central locations such as Lerwick for assessment or treatment. Although the fibre upgrade now makes it technically possible to share diagnostic information, conduct video consultations and access clinical systems remotely, these capabilities are not yet fully reflected in how services are structured.

As a result, some opportunities to deliver care locally in the North Isles – or to involve specialists remotely in clinical decisions – are used on a case-by-case basis rather than being embedded within standard clinical pathways. The interviewee emphasised that while the infrastructure now supports more distributed models of care, further changes to clinical processes would be required for these approaches to become routine.

“The kit’s here, the connectivity’s here. What we need now is people to facilitate the better working of that.”

Legacy digital systems

The interview also highlighted that many existing NHS clinical systems were designed for older network environments and local infrastructure rather than modern, distributed or cloud-based systems. Although the fibre network has significantly improved connectivity, it does not address the limitations of these legacy applications. 

This means that some systems remain slow or difficult to use, particularly in remote or mobile working contexts. As a result, the benefits of the network upgrade are partly constrained by the design of the applications themselves.

“We still have unfortunately a lot of legacy systems that… were never designed to work over that… The issue isn’t the fibre now – it’s legacy systems that are just badly written.”

Interviewees also noted that digital transformation within the NHS is inherently incremental. Legacy systems cannot be replaced overnight, and new systems must operate alongside existing platforms for a period of time. As a result, the fibre upgrade should be seen as a long-term enabler rather than an immediate solution.

“It’s not like you can switch off all the old systems and then all of a sudden turn on a brand new system that’s going to do everything.”

Human barriers

Limited staff capacity was also identified as a barrier to fully exploiting the opportunities created by improved connectivity. As a relatively small health board, NHS Shetland has limited staff resources available to redesign services, implement new digital systems and embed new ways of working alongside existing operational responsibilities.

Interviewees explained that key staff are often managing a wide range of priorities. This can slow the implementation of fibre-enabled initiatives or limit the ability to follow through on benefits once the underlying infrastructure is in place.

“it’s a lack of resource in terms of people and time to get those things implemented.”

The interview also highlighted that behavioural factors can influence the adoption of new digital approaches. Even where remote consultations or digital interactions are technically feasible, some clinicians may be hesitant about departing from familiar ways of working that feel simpler or more straightforward in practice. 

For example, it is now technically possible for clinicians to combine in-person and remote consultations within the same clinic, but this requires adjustments to established routines. As the interviewee explained:

“If I have to do something different because the next patient’s from Unst and I have to click on the screen and do a video thing, that’s sometimes where it breaks down a little bit.”

5.5 Future opportunities and strategic direction

The evidence above shows that many of the changes to health services enabled by the fibre upgrade are still emerging and that realising the full benefits will take time. While some new approaches to delivering care are already beginning to take shape, many opportunities are still in the early stages of development.

There are signs that digital connectivity is becoming a more central strategic priority for NHS Shetland. The interviewee highlighted that the organisation’s new Chief Executive has identified digital transformation as one of the key priorities for the health board, recognising its potential role in improving the sustainability of healthcare services across the islands.

In this context, the fibre network created through the LFFN project is seen as an important enabling asset. With reliable, high-capacity connectivity now in place, NHS Shetland has the infrastructure required to expand the use of remote diagnostics, digital consultations and locally delivered services in communities such as Yell and Unst. However, interviewees emphasised that further work is needed to adapt clinical processes and service models in order to take full advantage of these capabilities.

As the NHS Shetland interviewee explained:

“So on the clinical side, I think we need more change and we need a more targeted facilitation with clinical people to get some of these processes and systems working better… We need to make them realise the bandwidth’s there. You could literally do anything you can do in the hospital in that Unst health centre if you can get the kit and the processes to do it and we have some of the kit. We just don’t maybe have the processes to realise that yet.”

While some of these changes will take time to implement, the interviewee expressed confidence that the benefits of improved connectivity will become more visible as digital systems and clinical practices continue to evolve.

“As the years roll on and we do more, that’s going to become more realised and the benefits more realised.”

6. Care homes and sheltered housing

The LFFN funded North-Isles project connected three social care facilities; two care homes, one each on Unst and Yell, and a sheltered housing complex on Unst.  The interviewee managed all of these facilities.

6.1 Previous challenges with connectivity

Prior to the fibre upgrade, the care homes on Yell and Unst experienced a number of significant connectivity challenges which affected both day-to-day operations and the adoption of digital systems.

Connectivity initially relied on copper connections and was later supplemented by wireless links via local masts. These connections were often unreliable and particularly vulnerable to disruption during the winter months. Interviewees reported that poor weather conditions could damage equipment on the masts or delay repair work, meaning outages could sometimes last for several days or, in some cases, weeks.

Even when connections were functioning, available bandwidth was limited, which constrained routine tasks and made the network unsuitable for many modern digital services. When the network failed entirely, the impacts were significant. Email systems became inaccessible and IP-based phone systems stopped functioning, leaving staff reliant on a single standard telephone line for communication.

The unreliable nature of the connection also limited the ability of care homes to adopt digital care systems. For example, cloud-hosted systems such as electronic support plans were considered too risky to implement because staff could not depend on the network being available when information needed to be accessed or updated.

These connectivity issues also created operational inefficiencies. During network outages, staff were often forced to switch to paper-based tasks or non-essential activities while waiting for systems to be restored, reducing the time available for core care and administrative work.

Finally, poor connectivity also affected communication with families and external partners. Limited internet access made it more difficult to maintain regular contact with relatives, coordinate with other services, or support residents to connect with friends and family online.

6.2 Improvements enabled by the North Isles Fibre project

The interviewee described the fibre upgrade as having a significant impact on how the care homes operate on a day-to-day basis. The most important change has been the move from an unreliable and constrained connection to one that is stable, high capacity and able to support a wide range of digital services.

Faster and more reliable connectivity

The most immediate benefit reported was the reliability of the new connection. Interviewees explained that the fibre network has provided a stable service that has remained largely uninterrupted over several years, in contrast to the frequent outages experienced previously. This reliability has increased confidence among staff that digital systems can be used consistently as part of routine work.

“The biggest thing that I would take away from it is just the fact that we have a reliable connection.”

Connection speeds have also increased significantly, with interviewees reporting typical speeds of around 80–100 Mbps on staff devices within the building. This allows the network to support multiple computers, IP phones and other devices simultaneously without the performance issues that previously limited usage. Interviewees noted that the connection is now capable of supporting everyday work alongside streaming services and other online activity within the building.

“We’ve got a consistent connection and we’ve got a speed that can handle… all the computers going, all the phones going… people streaming their services whether it’s the radio, Netflix or BBC iPlayer.”

The improved connectivity has also supported the Council’s transition to Microsoft 365 and online shared file working, enabling staff to access and update documents through cloud-based systems with confidence that the connection will remain available.

Improving wellbeing and engagement for residents

Reliable internet access has also enabled the introduction of digital tools that support residents’ wellbeing and quality of life. These include devices such as Alexa units, music and streaming services, and video calling platforms.

The interviewee highlighted the importance of these tools in helping residents remain connected with friends and family, particularly during the COVID-19 pandemic when visitor restrictions prevented in-person contact. Video calls became an important way of maintaining social connections during this period.

“It’s brought a different atmosphere… having a more regular connection was brilliant for us to be able to do things like FaceTime calls with service users’ family members when we weren’t allowed visitors into the building.”

Enabling modern care technologies

The improved connectivity has also allowed the care homes to introduce new digital care technologies that were not previously feasible. One example is a recently installed nurse call system connected via Wi-Fi, which generates digital reports on call activity and response times.

These reports allow managers to monitor how quickly calls are responded to and identify areas where service quality could be improved. Interviewees noted that this type of system would not have been possible using the previous network.

Supporting staff training and collaboration

The fibre upgrade has also transformed how staff access training and collaborate with colleagues and partner organisations. Reliable connectivity now allows staff to participate in meetings and training sessions through platforms such as Microsoft Teams, including sessions delivered by NHS partners and other services.

Previously, attending these sessions often required staff to travel to the mainland, involving long journeys by ferry and road. Being able to participate remotely has therefore reduced travel time and associated costs, while also supporting access to mandatory training and continuing professional development that staff are required to complete in order to maintain professional standards and registration.  

“Not having to send 12 staff members on what is a full day’s round trip from Unst to go and do a small number of training hours when it can be done on a screen is a massive cost saving… not to mention the time and the mileage claims.”

Interviewees noted that being able to bring staff together locally around a single screen for online training sessions is both more efficient and less disruptive to frontline care.

6.3 Key enablers

The interviewee identified several additional factors that helped ensure that the improved connectivity translated into practical benefits for staff and residents.

• Organisational commitment to digital working – The service has increasingly adopted digital tools for meetings, training and day-to-day collaboration. This wider organisational willingness to modernise working practices helped ensure that the improved connectivity was actively used rather than remaining an underutilised capability.

• Central ICT support and infrastructure management  – The Council’s ICT team played an important enabling role by centrally managing core infrastructure such as laptops, desktops, printers and network equipment. They also implemented resilience measures to maintain connectivity during wider network disruptions, allowing frontline services to rely on digital systems without needing to manage technical issues themselves.

• Investment in end-user technology  – The benefits of the upgraded connection were supported by practical investments in devices that allowed staff and residents to use digital services. These included iPads, a large Microsoft Teams board with camera facilities, and Alexa devices for residents, funded either centrally through ICT or locally through service budgets.

The interviewee did not identify any significant barriers or challenges that have prevented them from making greater use of the connectivity. 

6.4 Future plans for using the network

Looking ahead, the service plans to build on the improved connectivity by introducing digital support planning as part of a wider programme of organisational change. This would involve moving away from paper-based support plans towards a digital system for recording and managing care information.

This change is being developed alongside the implementation of a council-wide social work recording system, with early discussions already taking place to ensure alignment between care services and corporate systems. Interviewees emphasised that this transition will take place gradually, as part of a phased approach to modernising care records and information sharing.

Over time, digital support planning is expected to improve the accessibility of information for staff, support more efficient record management, and enable better integration with wider social care systems.

7. SaxaVord Spaceport

One of the most distinctive users of the fibre infrastructure delivered through the North Isles project is SaxaVord Spaceport, located on the Lamba Ness peninsula in the north-east of Unst, close to Skaw, the northern‑most settlement in the British Isles.

SaxaVord is a vertical launch spaceport designed to support the launch of small satellites into orbit. The site includes a Launch Operations Control Centre (LOCC), a Launch Site Integration Facility (LSIF), and three launch pads. The nearby former RAF SaxaVord base provides accommodation, office space and storage for contractors and staff supporting launch operations.

The development of SaxaVord has strategic significance both locally and nationally. The UK National Space Strategy (2021) identifies the development of sovereign launch capability from UK spaceports as a key national objective and recognises SaxaVord as one of the planned sites for vertical launch in the UK. Similarly, Scotland’s Space Strategy (2021) highlights SaxaVord as critical infrastructure supporting Scotland’s ambition to become Europe’s leading location for small satellite manufacture and launch. At the local level, Shetland Islands Council also recognise the spaceport as a major opportunity to diversify the local economy beyond traditional sectors such as oil and gas.

The spaceport is already generating economic activity within the islands. SaxaVord currently employs around 70 staff and is expected to create up to 210 jobs across Shetland as operations expand, contributing an estimated £4.9 million annually to the local economy. The project has also demonstrated strong local supply chain engagement, with more than half of suppliers sourced from Shetland and the vast majority of spending taking place within the UK.

7.1 Connectivity as critical infrastructure

Interviewees emphasised that high-capacity and resilient digital connectivity is essential for the operation of the spaceport. The site supports several distinct activities, including commercial operations, hospitality facilities for visiting staff and partners, and the launch infrastructure itself. All of these functions rely heavily on digital connectivity.

The launch operations in particular require the ability to transfer extremely large volumes of data between the launch site and partner organisations. The IT operations manager described connectivity as a “big, big thing” and “integral to how we operate”, noting that launch activities involve the transfer of terabytes of data between Unst and locations elsewhere in the UK. At this scale, connection speed has a major practical impact.

To support these requirements, SaxaVord has procured a dedicated dark fibre connection via the Council’s Shetland Telecom function, which provides commercial access to fibre connectivity services for third parties. This connection provides a high-capacity and secure link between the spaceport and the wider fibre network. Interviewees emphasised that this connection serves all elements of the site’s operations and has proven highly reliable since installation.

Crucially, this connection would not have been possible without the fibre infrastructure delivered through the LFFN-funded North Isles project. As the IT operations manager explained, the fibre network that reached Unst through the project made it feasible for SaxaVord to obtain the high-capacity connectivity required for its operations:

“All three parts of the spaceport depend on the Shetland Telecom connection… the spaceport could not have been built without it.”

Interviewees from Shetland Islands Council also highlighted the spaceport as one of the most technically demanding users of the network. The spaceport relies on extremely high-capacity data transfer technologies and secure, end-to-end connectivity that avoids intermediate routing infrastructure, reflecting the sensitivity and scale of the data involved in launch activities.

All interviewees were clear that this level of connectivity would have been very difficult to obtain through standard commercial telecommunications products in such a remote location. The only alternative identified by the spaceport would have been satellite connectivity services such as Starlink, a low-Earth-orbit satellite broadband system. However, interviewees expressed significant doubts about whether this would have been technically suitable or commercially viable given the extremely high data capacity requirements of launch operations.

7.2 Strengthening the relationship with Shetland Islands Council

The provision of fibre connectivity has also contributed to a stronger relationship between the spaceport and Shetland Islands Council. Historically, the Council’s role in relation to the site had largely been regulatory, covering areas such as planning and environmental management. Through the fibre project, the Council instead became a direct provider of critical infrastructure that enables the spaceport’s operation.

Interviewees described this shift as creating a more positive and collaborative relationship. The spaceport now engages regularly with Council officers, mainly via the Shetland Telecom function, on technical issues relating to connectivity and wider infrastructure development. This ongoing engagement has helped build trust and created a foundation for broader partnership working.

Interviewees from both the Council and the spaceport indicated that the fibre connection has therefore not only supported the operation of the spaceport itself, but has also strengthened collaboration between the organisations and created opportunities for future joint initiatives.

8. Energy distribution and management

The North Isles Fibre project also created an important partnership between Shetland Telecom and SSE, the electricity distribution network operator for the north of Scotland. As part of the LFFN-funded project, new fibre connectivity needed to be extended from the Shetland Mainland to Yell and Unst, which would normally require costly new subsea fibre crossings.

Instead, the Council partnered with SSE to make use of fibre already embedded within existing subsea power cables connecting the islands. This arrangement enabled the LFFN project to reach the islands without installing new subsea fibre infrastructure, while also creating an opportunity for SSE to connect its electricity substations to the new network.

Through the LFFN-funded extension of the Shetland fibre network, SSE was able to connect substations on Yell and Unst to fibre broadband via the Council-owned network. SSE had previously planned to connect substations across its network in order to monitor and control them remotely from its operations centre in Perth. However, the substations on the northern isles previously had very poor connectivity, meaning this was not possible. Through the partnership with the Council, these substations were connected significantly earlier than would otherwise have been feasible. The SSE interviewee estimated that the arrangement brought forward the timetable for connecting substations on Yell and Unst by “at least five years”, particularly compared with other island areas such as Orkney where similar arrangements are still not available. The approach was described as a “brilliant partnership”, with the interviewee noting that “if I could find this on every island it would be perfect”.

Connecting substations to fibre has enabled SSE to monitor, manage and control parts of the electricity network remotely. This includes the ability to reroute power, identify and respond to faults, and manage power outages without the need for engineers to travel to substations in person. These capabilities are particularly important in Shetland, where a significant proportion of electricity is generated locally through a mix of local power stations and renewable generation. The improved connectivity therefore supports a more responsive and reliable electricity system for local communities.

The partnership also avoided the need for SSE to install its own fibre connections from coastal landing points to individual substations, which the interviewee described as prohibitively expensive. An alternative option would have been to rely on commercial telecoms circuits, such as those provided by Openreach, but these would have been more costly and would not have provided the same level of capacity or reliability required for operational control of the electricity network.

The collaboration between SSE and the Council, through its Shetland Telecom function, has continued beyond the initial LFFN project. SSE is investing in new substations across Shetland and these facilities require fibre connectivity as part of their operation. By connecting these sites to the Council-owned network, the substations effectively act as additional nodes within the fibre network, helping to improve its coverage and resilience while continuing to support the operation of the electricity distribution system.

9. Other uses and benefits

Shetland Islands Council also identified several additional users of the fibre infrastructure delivered through the North Isles project. However, it was not possible to interview representatives from these organisations as part of this case study. The information presented below is therefore based on second-hand accounts provided by Council interviewees and has not been independently verified.

9.1 Ferry services

Interviewees noted that the Council-owned ferry service has used the fibre network to support the monitoring and maintenance of harbour infrastructure, including equipment such as loading ramps. This reportedly allows equipment manufacturers to monitor performance and identify maintenance needs remotely, potentially reducing the need for engineers to travel to the islands. Interviewees emphasised that these benefits relate primarily to operational efficiency and asset management rather than visible changes to passenger services.

9.2 MOD/Coastguard facilities

Interviewees also highlighted that the fibre network is used to provide connectivity to nearby Ministry of Defence (MOD) and Coastguard facilities. According to interviewees, the fibre provides the physical network layer used to support radar installations, air traffic control systems and Coastguard communications covering the North Atlantic. These services are delivered by external providers, with encryption and operational management handled outside the Council’s network. Due to the sensitive nature of these systems, interviewees noted that only limited information about these uses can be shared publicly.

10. Conclusions 

The North Isles Fibre project demonstrates the significant benefits that improved digital connectivity can deliver for public services in remote and island communities. By extending fibre infrastructure to Yell and Unst, the project addressed longstanding connectivity constraints that had affected the operation of schools, healthcare facilities and social care services.

10.1 Schools

The case study confirms that improved connectivity has delivered substantial benefits for schools in remote island communities, most notably through improved reliability and capacity. At Burravoe Primary School, the move from slow and unreliable broadband to stable, high‑quality connectivity enabled routine use of digital learning platforms, live online teaching and collaboration with other schools. These findings are consistent with earlier BDUK‑commissioned evaluations, including the LFFN Wave One and Gigahubs evaluations.

At the same time, this case study provides new learning that has not featured strongly in previous evaluations. In particular, it highlights how reliable, high‑capacity connectivity is supporting schools to embed digital literacy more deeply within the curriculum, including helping pupils to understand emerging technologies such as artificial intelligence and to critically assess online information. As these issues have risen rapidly in prominence since earlier evaluations were completed, this suggests that gigabit‑capable connectivity is increasingly important in enabling schools to respond to evolving educational and societal challenges, rather than simply supporting delivery of existing activities.

The benefits observed at Burravoe Primary were enabled by a combination of factors beyond improved connectivity alone, including strong digital leadership, high levels of staff and pupil digital confidence, and established use of digital platforms and devices prior to the fibre upgrade. However, these conditions may not be present in all rural schools, which may limit the extent to which the outcomes observed here are representative. In addition, uneven connectivity across the wider school system in Shetland continues to constrain collaboration between schools and can disrupt continuity in pupils’ digital experiences as they move between settings. This highlights the importance of both complementary investment in digital capability and more consistent connectivity across networks of schools if system‑wide benefits are to be realised.

10.2 Health-centres

The case study demonstrates that improved digital connectivity has delivered clear benefits for health centres on Yell and Unst, particularly by enabling the sharing of clinical information, supporting remote consultations, and improving the efficiency and resilience of IT management. These changes are already helping to reduce some patient travel and to support clinical decision‑making in highly remote settings.

These findings are consistent with evidence from other BDUK‑commissioned evaluations, including the Gigahubs programme, which also identified increased use of online appointments. However, this evaluation is the first to explore these benefits in an extremely remote and island context, where health centres function as the primary point of care and where the consequences of poor connectivity are particularly acute. The findings therefore strengthen the evidence that gigabit‑capable connectivity can support more locally delivered care even in the most geographically challenging environments.

Where this case study adds new insight is in highlighting the time and organisational change required to fully realise these benefits. Interviewees emphasised that while the fibre network has removed a key technical barrier, further changes to clinical pathways, legacy systems and working practices are needed before new digital approaches become routine. In this context, the fibre upgrade should be seen as a long‑term enabler rather than an immediate solution, with the full benefits expected to emerge gradually as service models evolve and organisations build confidence in new ways of working.

10.3 Care homes

This case study provides new evidence on the benefits of improved digital connectivity for care homes, an area not previously examined in BDUK‑commissioned evaluations. The fibre upgrade supported more reliable day‑to‑day operations, enabled the adoption of digital care technologies, improved communication with families, and strengthened how staff collaborate and access information. The move from fragile and unreliable connections to stable, high‑capacity connectivity allowed digital systems to be used confidently as part of routine care delivery.

One example of how these benefits manifest is in staff training and collaboration. Reliable connectivity has enabled staff to participate in online meetings and training sessions, removing the need for long and disruptive journeys to the mainland for relatively short courses. This reduces travel time, costs and disruption to frontline care. Similar benefits could be expected in other rural and remote care settings connected through programmes such as Project Gigabit or the Shared Rural Network, where travel distances can turn routine training into a full‑day activity.

While a number of contextual factors supported effective use of the network in this case, the benefits identified for care homes appeared less dependent on wider changes to systems, clinical pathways or working practices than those observed in health settings. Interviewees did not identify significant barriers to exploiting the improved connectivity, and many benefits were realised quickly once the network constraint was removed. This suggests that care homes in rural and remote areas may be particularly well placed to gain rapid and tangible benefits from improved digital connectivity.

10.4 Other benefits

The case study also illustrates how infrastructure delivered through LFFN can support benefits beyond the public sector sites originally targeted by the programme. The fibre network has enabled the development of SaxaVord Spaceport, which requires high-capacity and secure connectivity for launch operations and associated activities. Similarly, the partnership with SSE has enabled electricity substations on the islands to be connected to fibre, allowing remote monitoring and management of the electricity network and improving the resilience of local energy supply. These examples demonstrate how digital infrastructure can act as a platform for wider economic activity and critical infrastructure services. These findings are also relevant and will be revisited in Work Package 4, Additional Uses of Gigabit Infrastructure. This work package will explore how LFFN-built infrastructure has been used for further commercial build and the medium- to long-term value of dark fibre or passive assets.

The project also highlights the strategic value of locally owned fibre infrastructure. By retaining ownership of the network and operating it through Shetland Telecom, Shetland Islands Council has been able to support specialised connectivity requirements and collaborate with external partners in ways that may have been difficult through standard commercial telecommunications services in such a remote location.

Overall, the North Isles Fibre project illustrates how investment in digital infrastructure can play a critical role in supporting the delivery of public services, improving resilience and enabling new economic activity in remote communities.