[Stronsaylimpet] Liam McArthur MSP - Orkney Digital Forum Oct 2023

[Limpet editor]

/From Liam McArthur MSP:/

Information the presentation slides provided by speakers from the 
Scottish Government, Openreach, Virgin O2 and Orkney Islands Council – 
available *here* 
<https://click.ngpvan.com/k/72554673/435648586/1631915246?nvep=ew0KICAiVGVuYW50VXJpIjogIm5ncHZhbjovL3Zhbi9MSUJVSy9MSUJVSy8xLzM4NTM1IiwNCiAgIkRpc3RyaWJ1dGlvblVuaXF1ZUlkIjogIjc3ODViNTdlLTFiNzgtZWUxMS1iMDA0LTAwMjI0ODMyZWI3MyIsDQogICJFbWFpbEFkZHJlc3MiOiAicmljYXJkaWFuQGNsYXJlbW9udHN0cm9uc2F5LmNvLnVrIg0KfQ%3D%3D&hmac=GMstwirF56EePcbsGGE5ABf3w8Q8UUXpLImPWJE2BSI=&emci=97c383c1-1678-ee11-b004-00224832eb73&emdi=7785b57e-1b78-ee11-b004-00224832eb73&ceid=397233>, 
alongside a brief news article commenting on the event.

The slides themselves offer useful summaries of the updates shared by 
speakers, including details and expected timeframes for the continued 
rollout of broadband and mobile internet. These include promising 
commitments to upgrade the coverage and speed of mobile networks across 
Orkney, as well as some useful clarification regarding the progression 
of broadband rollout under the R100 programme. One issue raised during 
the Q&A was the apparent exclusion of some properties neighbouring those 
that are due to get a connection or have one already. Openreach offered 
to investigate each case, so do please let me know if you think this 
applies to you.

Speakers also pointed to helpful resources to help islanders explore 
options for improving connectivity. This included *Digital Scotland’s 
broadband checker at www.scotlandsuperfast.com 
<https://click.ngpvan.com/k/72554676/435648593/-187948239?nvep=ew0KICAiVGVuYW50VXJpIjogIm5ncHZhbjovL3Zhbi9MSUJVSy9MSUJVSy8xLzM4NTM1IiwNCiAgIkRpc3RyaWJ1dGlvblVuaXF1ZUlkIjogIjc3ODViNTdlLTFiNzgtZWUxMS1iMDA0LTAwMjI0ODMyZWI3MyIsDQogICJFbWFpbEFkZHJlc3MiOiAicmljYXJkaWFuQGNsYXJlbW9udHN0cm9uc2F5LmNvLnVrIg0KfQ%3D%3D&hmac=GMstwirF56EePcbsGGE5ABf3w8Q8UUXpLImPWJE2BSI=&emci=97c383c1-1678-ee11-b004-00224832eb73&emdi=7785b57e-1b78-ee11-b004-00224832eb73&ceid=397233>*, 
which can offer information on whether your property is eligible for a 
superfast broadband connection, when this is expected to be in place or, 
indeed, whether a superfast connection already available to you. One 
issue highlighted at the event was that only about 25% of the 1000 so 
properties already connected to superfast broadband in Orkney are 
actually making use of these connections, so it’s worth checking for 
updates if you have not done so already.

Additionally, to coincide with the Digital Forum on Friday, *OIC have 
now launched a specialist service to support islanders in upgrading 
their internet connections*. If you would like to receive updates, 
support or advice in improving connectivity at your home, I would 
encourage you to contact OIC through email at *digital at orkney.gov.uk* or 
by phoning *01856 873 535*.

Finally, a number of people at the Forum expressed concern surrounding 
the planned switch off of analogue landline services at the end of next 
year, as providers transition over to the digital network ‘Voice Over 
Internet Protocol’. Alistair Carmichael has been raising concerns about 
the impact of this in the context of a planned UK-wide digital 
switch-over and, as he noted on Friday, it is going to be an agenda item 
at the Shetland Digital Forum being held in a few weeks. Given the 
understandable interest in this transition and the issues it might 
create in an island context, Alistair and I will be looking to hold a 
further Digital Forum early next year give this issue grater focus and 
hopefully hear from individuals directly involved in the rollout of 
‘VOIP’, and will be happy to share further details on this in due course.

I hope these details have been of interest. Meantime, feel free to get 
in touch if you have any questions or issues you’d like to raise.
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