R100 subsea deployment

Connecting 15 Scottish islands

During summer 2022, vessels will lay 16 subsea cables connecting 15 Scottish islands to superfast broadband as part of the Scottish Government’s Reaching 100% (R100) North contract.

The 16 subsea cables will help connect 15 Scottish islands:

• Colonsay, Iona and Lismore in Argyll and Bute Council
• Eigg in the Highland Council area
• Eday, Flotta, Hoy, Rousay, Sanday, Shapinsay and Stronsay in Orkney Islands Council
• Fair Isle, Unst, Whalsey and Yell in Shetland Islands Council

All of the R100 North contract build will be gigabit capable – this is more than 30 times faster than the Scottish Government’s original commitment to deliver 30Mbps.

R100 subsea cable interactive map

Click on the hotspots in the interactive map to view the subsea broadband cables being deployed in the R100 programme. You can also view the subsea cables from the Digital Scotland Superfast Broadband (DSSB) programme.

White = R100 | Yellow = DSSB

Colonsay - Mull

The Colonsay to Mull subsea broadband cable is the last deep water cable scheduled for the R100 build.

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Eday - Sanday

Around 1km of R100 broadband cable was buried under the sand at the Eday landing point.

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Westray - Eday

This R100 subsea cable from Westray to Eday was completed in July 2022.

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Eigg - Scottish Mainland

At 27km long the subsea broadband cable from Eigg to the Scottish Mainland is the second longest cable in the R100 deployment.

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Fair Isle - Shetland

Fair Isle is the most remote island of the R100 deployment by distance to its neighbouring islands.

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Hoy - Flotta

The Hoy to Flotta subsea broadband cable is one of seven being deployed around the Orkney Islands.

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South Ronalday - Flotta

The South Ronaldsay to Flotta subsea broadband cable is one of seven being deployed around the Orkney Islands.

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Mull - Iona

This cable is one of three that are laid in shallow waters meaning smaller vessels will be used to connect the subsea cable from one landing point to the other.

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Scottish Mainland - Lismore

This is the shortest cable in the R100 deployment at 1.4km. A smaller vessel will be used to drag the subsea broadband cable from one landing point to the other in these shallow waters.

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Orkney Mainland - Rousay

This cable is one of three that are laid in shallow waters meaning smaller vessels will be used to connect the subsea cable from one landing point to the other.

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Sanday - Fair Isle

The Sanday - Fair Isle - Shetland cables combine to total 110km, the longest of all the R100 subsea cables.

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Stronsay - Sanday

The Stronsay to Sanday subsea broadband cable is one of seven being deployed around the Orkney Islands.

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Orkney Mainland - Shapinsay

This is one of seven subsea broadband cables being laid around Orkney during the R100 deployment.

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Shetland - Whalsay

This subsea broadband cable was the first deep water cable to be laid during the R100 deployment.

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Shetland - Yell

This is one of three subsea broadband cables that are being deployed around the Shetland isles during the R100 programme.

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Yell - Unst

The Yell to Unst subsea broadband cable is the most northerly of the R100 deployment.

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Largs - Millport

The Largs to Millport subsea cable was deployed during the Digital Scotland Superfast Broadband (DSSB) programme in 2014.

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Kilchattan Bay - Millport

The Kilchattan Bay to Millport subsea cable was deployed during the Digital Scotland Superfast Broadband (DSSB) programme in 2014.

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Rothesay - Toward

The Rothesay to Toward subsea cable was deployed during the Digital Scotland Superfast Broadband (DSSB) programme in 2014.

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Kilfinan - Lochgilphead

The Kilfinan to Lochgilphead subsea cable was deployed during the Digital Scotland Superfast Broadband (DSSB) programme in 2014.

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Campbelltown - Shiskine

The Campbelltown to Shiskine subsea cable was deployed during the Digital Scotland Superfast Broadband (DSSB) programme in 2014.

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Corrie - West Kilbride

The Corrie to West Kilbride subsea cable was deployed during the Digital Scotland Superfast Broadband (DSSB) programme in 2014.

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Jura - Port Askaig

The Jura to Port Askaig subsea cable was deployed during the Digital Scotland Superfast Broadband (DSSB) programme in 2014.

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Glenbarr - Port Ellen

The Glenbarr to Port Ellen subsea cable was deployed during the Digital Scotland Superfast Broadband (DSSB) programme in 2014.

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Jura - Ormsary

The Jura to Ormsary subsea cable was deployed during the Digital Scotland Superfast Broadband (DSSB) programme in 2014.

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Kilchoan - Tobermory

The Kilchoan to Tobermory subsea cable was deployed during the Digital Scotland Superfast Broadband (DSSB) programme in 2014.

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Craignure - Oban

The Craignure to Oban subsea cable was deployed during the Digital Scotland Superfast Broadband (DSSB) programme in 2014.

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Ardgour - Onich

The Ardgour to Onich subsea cable was deployed during the Digital Scotland Superfast Broadband (DSSB) programme in 2014.

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Stornoway - Ullapool

At 79km, the Stornoway to Ullapool subsea cable was the longest one deployed during the Digital Scotland Superfast Broadband (DSSB) programme.

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Lochmaddy - Leverburgh

The Lochmaddy to Leverburgh subsea cable was deployed during the Digital Scotland Superfast Broadband (DSSB) programme in 2014.

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Carnan - Dunvegan

The Carnan to Dunvegan subsea cable was deployed during the Digital Scotland Superfast Broadband (DSSB) programme in 2014.

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Ardvasar - Mallaig

The Ardvasar to Mallaig subsea cable was deployed during the Digital Scotland Superfast Broadband (DSSB) programme in 2014.

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Dervaig - Scarinish

The Dervaig to Scarinish subsea cable was deployed during the Digital Scotland Superfast Broadband (DSSB) programme in 2014.

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Lochboysdale - Eriskay

The Lochboysdale to Eriskay subsea cable was deployed during the Digital Scotland Superfast Broadband (DSSB) programme in 2014.

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Eriskay - North Bay

The Eriskay to North Bay subsea cable was deployed during the Digital Scotland Superfast Broadband (DSSB) programme in 2014.

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Evie - Westray

The Evie to Westray subsea cable was deployed during the Digital Scotland Superfast Broadband (DSSB) programme in 2014.

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DSSB

R100

Subsea cable route

The deployment starts in the Shetland islands and works its way south towards the Inner Hebrides.

Please note that the route for the subsea cable deployment is subject to change, and are weather and current dependent.

The three shallow water routes will utilise smaller vessels that operate in shallower water and therefore may be deployed at different points of the schedule.

Vessels trackers

You can track the progress of the vessels that are working on the R100 deployment via the links below. Please note that other vessels may be used and not all vessels may be active at all times. The two main vessels working on R100 are the Normand Clipper and the CS Sovereign.

Videos

We spoke to Clive, Andy and Paul ahead of the Normand Clipper setting sail for Norway where it was being loaded with 224km of subsea cables. Find out what they had to say about the subsea activity and the R100 programme.

Find out how the R100 programme is already benefitting home-owners throughout Scotland by taking a look at some of our case studies.

Reaching 100%

Scottish Government’s Reaching 100% (R100) programme ensures that every household and business in Scotland can access superfast broadband - speeds greater than 30 Megabits per second (Mbps).

R100 is being delivered through three stands of activity:

• R100 contracts
• R100 Scottish Broadband Voucher Scheme
• Commercial coverage

Digital infrastructure is a key economic enabler and a critical part of our plans for a green and resilient economic recovery from COVID-19.

Have you checked your address?

Find out what R100 means for you by using our address checker.

Keep up to date with progress by following us on Twitter @DigConnectScot.