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Atkins chosen to continue to operate the UK's largest broadband fixed wireless access network
[October 22, 2014]

Atkins chosen to continue to operate the UK's largest broadband fixed wireless access network


(M2 PressWIRE Via Acquire Media NewsEdge) Atkins has successfully retendered for the contract to operate the largest geographical coverage broadband fixed wireless access network in the UK.

Connected Communities Broadband is a project that brings broadband services to remote rural locations throughout the Western Isles in Scotland. The wide distribution of the population across a number of islands means that traditional methods of providing broadband are impractical.



Design, engineering and project management consultancy Atkins first became involved in the Connected Communities project in 2003 when it undertook the initial feasibility study around the provision of wireless broadband across the Western Isles. The company was then involved in the design, management, procurement and build of the network as well as its operation after it went live in 2005.

The high performance broadband network is based on a ground breaking design which was one of the first large-scale deployments of broadband fixed wireless access using the 5.8GHz radio spectrum - a spectrum notable for providing cost-effective high-bandwidth radio access.


Neil Watt of Atkins said: "We are delighted that we've been given the opportunity to continue to operate this important service. Connected Communities Broadband is a critical communications network that supports 21 NHS sites - including the main hospitals in Benbecula and Stornoway - five council offices and 32 schools and playgroups, as well as countless business and residential customers in the Western Isles.

"As well as continuing to provide a seamless wireless connectivity service, we will spend the next two years of the contract preparing for the introduction of Superfast Broadband to the Western Isles and the eventual transition of the existing broadband fixed wireless access network to this new high speed service." Stuart Robertson, HIE's Director of Digital Highlands and Islands said: "Atkins has provided valuable expertise to the Outer Hebrides over the lifetime of the Connected Communities project. This has not only brought wireless broadband to some of our remotest communities, but has also made possible a wide range of new public services including telemedicine, e-government and VOIP telephony. Over the next couple of years we will see next generation broadband begin to roll-out across the Outer Hebrides. We look forward to continuing our work with Atkins to provide the best possible broadband options for local people." For more information: Dan Gray PR Executive - Defence, Aerospace and Communications [email protected] +44 1454663149 Follow Atkins' news on Twitter Notes to editors: Atkins (www.atkinsglobal.com) is one of the world's leading design, engineering and project management consultancies*, employing some 17,500 people across the UK, North America, Middle East, Asia Pacific and Europe. Our people's breadth and depth of expertise and drive to ask why has allowed us to plan, design and enable some of the world's most complex and time critical projects.

*15th largest global design firm (Engineering News-Record 2014) and the third largest multidisciplinary consultancy in Europe (Svensk Teknik och Design 2013).

Recent projects: Atkins is working across urban regeneration, masterplanning, national energy programmes, major transport schemes, water and environment projects - applying smart design solutions on projects including: - Doha Central Planning Office - helping to resource Qatar's Central Planning Office (CPO) to co-ordinate the efficient delivery of multi-modal transport services across land, air and sea as part of its 2030 National Vision; - The London 2012 Games infrastructure transformation - technical advisor on the legacy use transition of the Olympic Park as a follow-on role to our work as the Games' official engineering and design provider; - UAE's peaceful nuclear new build programme - providing technical assurance to lenders backing the United Arab Emirates' most ambitious energy infrastructure projects; - North Sea and Gulf of Mexico oil and gas platforms - extending the operational life of critical oil and gas platforms to allow cost-efficient and safe recovery of fuel sources from mature fields; - SSE offshore wind alliance - provision of expert engineering and design support for the UK's biggest offshore wind alliance with Scottish and Southern Energy; - Crossrail - designing the Central London twin tunnels and station architecture for Europe's biggest civil engineering scheme which will see tunnels passing beneath 470 listed buildings and critical infrastructure; - Etihad Railway - providing multidisciplinary design expertise on the 1,200 km Etihad Rail network which will revolutionise passenger and freight transport in the UAE; - Denmark ERTMS - providing multidisiplinary signalling expertise on the first countrywide installation of an ERTMS train control and management system in Denmark; Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macao Bridge - lead consultant on this integral part of the new Hong Kong link road scheme which will significantly boost land connectivity in the region; - Lowestoft Sixth Form College - design of the ultralow energy consumption Lowestoft College in the UK which aims to reduce operational energy use by more than 60% compared to previous designs; - UK National Composites Centre - providing technical expertise to bring the latest lightweight carbon fibre materials to all engineering sectors, helping to develop innovative applications and reduce costs and carbon; - US Environmental Protection Agency - providing technical assessment and analysis of national water-related resources and ecological systems in North America; - Highlands and Islands Enterprise (HIE) superfast broadband - providing technical, commercial and procurement support to help deliver superfast broadband to one of Europe's most remote regions.

Dan Gray PR Executive Defence, Aerospace and Communications ATKINS Thought leadership in a complex world - www.atkinsglobal.com/angles .

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