Community broadband service to close in April

A community broadband service in Wester Ross is being switched off in April after struggling to compete with rival providers.

Highland Community Broadband (HCB) has been providing internet access for people in remote areas around Ullapool since 2017, using transmitters on hilltops.

The community interest company has 400 subscribers and has been financing the scheme locally.

The board of directors said that the initiative was struggling to keep up with faster satellite connectivity and upgrades to mobile phone coverage.

Topher Dawson, chair of HCB, said that the signal relied on subscribers being close to a transmitter.

"We've ended up with about 25 transmitters," he said.

"The signals don't go around corners."

Dawson said that he had enjoyed providing internet to people living within 20 miles (32km) of Ullapool.

"We're very proud of what we managed to achieve," he added.

"The money and work came from people in the community."

In a statement, the board said that the company had faced "increasing financial difficulty" with legal and maintenance costs.

It said other providers using different technology - including Elon Musk's Starlink system - had made "big strides".

HCB added that none of these had been available when it was set up so it had "filled a vital gap".

It also highlighted its role providing internet access to people in remote areas during the Covid pandemic.

The network will be switched off on 30 April and subscribers have been urged to find an alternative source of internet access.