Press Release
Council learning from Faroese Telecoms experience
Council Convenor Sandy Cluness is heading upadelegation from the Shetland Islands Council who is in Faroe at the moment meeting senior politicians, government officials and industry leaders.
The 4-person delegation is meeting executives from Faroe's telecoms company ForoyaTele to find out more about how the company has developed fibre optic networks throughout Faroe.
Speaking from Faroe this morning, Head of Economic Development Neil Grant said that the meetings had been "extremely useful" so far. "This visit is part of the project to improve broadband speed and resilience in Shetland by hooking up with the Faroese SHEFA cable. Shetland Telecom Project is moving ahead with making the connection into Lerwick, but we're interested to learn how the Faroese have extended their network into outlying communities. Ultimately, that's what the Shetland Telecom Project is aiming to do, so these meetings allow us to see first hand how they've done it and learn from the Faroese experiences".
In a busy schedule, meetings are also taking place with the Faroese Prime Minister and Trade Minister regarding the possibility of Shetland and Faroe working together on a number of projects including renewable energy and oil and gas. The group is also taking the opportunity to visit a number of key capital investment projects including harbours, schools, road tunnels and elderly care developments and will meet representatives ofthe Faroese civil works company Articon. Articon was recently awarded the contract for dredging Scalloway Harbour.
Further discussions are also planned with Atlantic Airways and Smyril regarding links between Shetland and Faroe.
Cllr Josie Simpson and Shetland Telecom ProjectManager Marvin Smith are the other members of the group.