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<p><i>From Liam McArthur MSP:</i><br>
</p>
<p>Information the presentation slides provided by speakers from the
Scottish Government, Openreach, Virgin O2 and Orkney Islands
Council – available <a
href="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"
target="_blank"
style="text-decoration: underline; color: #2b59c3;"
rel="noopener"><strong>here</strong></a>, alongside a brief news
article commenting on the event.</p>
<p style="margin:0;mso-line-height-alt:14.399999999999999px">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.
</p>
<p style="margin:0;mso-line-height-alt:14.399999999999999px"> </p>
<p style="margin:0;mso-line-height-alt:14.399999999999999px">
Speakers also pointed to helpful resources to help islanders
explore options for improving connectivity. This included <strong>Digital
Scotland’s broadband checker at <a
href="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"
style="text-decoration: underline; color: #2b59c3;">www.scotlandsuperfast.com</a></strong>,
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.
</p>
<p style="margin:0;mso-line-height-alt:14.399999999999999px"> </p>
<p style="margin:0;mso-line-height-alt:14.399999999999999px">
Additionally, to coincide with the Digital Forum on Friday, <strong>OIC
have now launched a specialist service to support islanders in
upgrading their internet connections</strong>. 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 <strong><a
href="mailto:digital@orkney.gov.uk"
style="text-decoration: underline; color: #2b59c3;"
class="moz-txt-link-freetext">digital@orkney.gov.uk</a></strong>
or by phoning <strong>01856 873 535</strong>.
</p>
<p style="margin:0;mso-line-height-alt:14.399999999999999px"> </p>
<p style="margin:0;mso-line-height-alt:14.399999999999999px">
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.
</p>
<p style="margin:0;mso-line-height-alt:14.399999999999999px"> </p>
<p style="margin:0;mso-line-height-alt:14.399999999999999px">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.</p>
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