Timeline
Shetland Headlines
National Headlines
BT announces that 'Superfast' broadband will be available in Lerwick by August 2014
Apr
2014
Sep
2013
Public Accounts Committee Report Attacks UK Gov for Giving BT a Monopoly on Broadband
Jul
2013
National Audit Office Scalds 2 Years Late Broadband Delivery UK Project
HIE promise that 75% of households in Shetland will have +24Mbps broadband by end of 2015
Jun
2013
Mar
2013
HIE award
BT scheduled 21CN service rollout date for Lerwick
Feb
2013
Fibre Optic Cable installation Phase II (Scalloway) and IV (Voe, Brae & Sellaness)complete
Dec
2012
HIE announce intention to award
Nov
2012
BT unveils plans for Fibre Optic network to Shetland
Sep
2012
Work starts on fibre optic link to Sullom Voe
Jul
2012
Scottish Gov't award
Puffincam first live user of Shetland to London fibre optic link
Jun
2012
Lystina to London link under test
Apr
2012
Shetland Telecom provide the first completely fibre optic link between Shetland and Telehouse North in London with a capacity of 200Mbps.
Mar
2012
Sandwick Junior High School connected by Phase I Fibre Optic cable
Feb
2012
Fibre optic cable to Sullom Voe (Phase IV) and Toft / Mossbank (Phase V) agreed
Dec
2011
BT only remaining bidder for HIE BDUK project after withdrawal of C&W and Fujitsu
SHEFA2 Interconnect Phase 1 Contractor hands cable over to Shetland Telecom
Nov
2011
Digital Shetland Report (DV034)
Jun
2011
1Gb/s available in areas of London
SHEFA2 Interconenct Phase I installation complete
Feb
2011
Fibre to Everywhere post pathfinder report (DV009)
Jan
2011
BT rollout 100Mb/s service
SHEFA2 Interconect Contract awarded
Oct
2010
HIE project wins BDUK funding, includes NGA for Lerwick, Brae, Scalloway and Sumburgh
SHEFA2 Interconnect project Phases I (Sandwick), II(Scalloway) and III(Maywick) agreed (DV033)
Apr
2010
UK Gov't reafirm 90% by 2017 but fail to mention 2020 target
ST Project Team established at 66 Commercial Rd.
BT upgrade Vidlin and Fetlar exchanges to full ADSL
BT upgrade Vidlin and Fetlar exchanges to full ADSL
Dec
2009
Analysys Mason report issued (DV113)
Nov
2009
Members representation on ST Team agreed (DV104)
Oct
2009
Fetlar & Vidlin Community Broadband schemes go live
Sep
2009
Shetland Telecom Project agreed (DV092)
Aug
2009
BT announce they will not light their SHEFA fibres until 21CN rollout in 2011
Jun
2009
South Korea announce funding of $24 billion to deliver 1Gbps broadband by 2014
BT will not upgrade the Vidlin & Fetlar Exchanges from Exchange Activate to full ADSL
Apr
2008
BT lease fibres in SHEFA2 between Shetland and Banff
Mar
2008
SHEFA2 goes live between Torshavn and Banff
Jul
2007
Pathfinder North contract starts
Mar
2007
BT trial 24Mb/s ADSL2+
8Mb/s ADSL Max service available from BT's Lerwick exchange
Sep
2006
BT withdraw Shetland Fibre proposal, Faroese Telecom decide to go it alone with SHEFA2
Feb
2006
BT launch 8Mb/s ADSL Max
SHEFA2 concept with BT providing Shetland - Mainland leg
Nov
2005
BT announce fibre optic line to Orkney and to Shetland
Oct
2005
NTL/Telewest 2Mb/s minimum service
2 Mb/s ADSL service available from BT's Lerwick exchange
2004
ASA say 512kb/s is not "full speed"
2003
Advertising Standards Agency say 128kb/s is not Broadband
BT/BP/Shell/SIC fibre optic cable working group collapses
2001
BT/BP/Shell/SIC fibre optic cable working group established
2000
BT Launch 2Mb/s ADSL
Shetland Charitable Trust commission seabed survey for fibre cable to Scottish Mainland
1999