A Highland Broadband spokesperson states: \u201cThe village\u2019s population sits at 950 and [our] customers now experience speeds of up to 8000Mbps, allowing people from all walks of life the opportunity of seamless streaming and lightning-quick downloads.\u201d<\/p>\n
Highland Broadband work carried out at Halkirk in January. Despite all the disruption on the streets, the company claims to have transformed the Caithness village’s bad reputation for slow internet connections. Picture: DGS<\/p>\n
Tanya Horne, who runs a Highland dance school in the village, said reliable broadband will \u201copen up the world\u201d to her young students. Tanya, who teaches around 100 students from across Caithness each week, said: \u201cThe dancers could benefit from online practice programmes provided by a world champion Highland dancer 250 miles away and CrossFit with a trainer in the United States, to name just a couple.<\/p>\n
\u201cThey\u2019ll now be able to do that as a group, which will be so much more valuable as a learning experience. Likewise, I have lectured and given demonstrations for fellow professionals in North America and with good broadband, we can continue that sharing of expertise in Highland dancing around the world.<\/p>\n
Tanya Horne’s Highland dance school in Halkirk is connected to Highland Broadband. Picture: Peter Jolly
Tanya Horne is delighted with the new Highland Broadband service at Halkirk. Picture: Peter Jolly<\/p>\n
\u201cLast year, we had a local fiddler and accordionist providing live music at a special workshop and one of our younger girls, aged six, came up to me afterwards and said how nice it was to dance to continuous music, without the buffering we used to get. This new connection will ensure we can have uninterrupted music at each lesson.\u201d<\/p>\n
The Ulbster Arms Hotel will use the ultra-fast connection as a major selling point to bring tourism and business to the area. \u201cA lot of people forget that there\u2019s a world north of Inverness,\u201d said Jess Dreaves, general manager.<\/p>\n
Jess Dreaves is general manager of the Ulbster Arms Hotel in Halkirk. Picture: Peter Jolly<\/p>\n
\u201cBy partnering with Highland Broadband and installing a faster connection, we are able to have the confidence to offer our guests the fastest broadband connection available in the country.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe have 13 rooms within our hotel as well as five lodges, so having the best broadband connection that can deliver for dozens of users is essential. Now we have changed over to Highland Broadband, staff and guests are able to connect quickly and stay online.\u201d<\/p>\n
The Ross Institute\u2019s committee has plans to diversify into provision for weddings and conferences, unlocking revenue streams to help meet the facility\u2019s considerable running and maintenance costs.<\/p>\n
The Ross Institute in Halkirk may have new revenue streams thanks to better connectivity.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe only just got broadband in the hall last year, but with our new reliable connectivity, we see the potential for hosting conferences and weddings,\u201d said Trish Bremner, treasurer of Halkirk Village Council, trustees of the Ross Institute. \u201cIt opens up more opportunities for us.\u201c<\/p>\n
Teenage gamer Mackenzie Taylor-Harwood added: \u201cUsually when I download the latest game I have to wait a couple of days, but when I downloaded one recently it took just over 10 minutes.\u201d<\/p>\n
Halkirk had the dubious honour of the slowest broadband internet speed in the UK, at 2.8Mbps on average, according to 2023 research by industry watchdog Broadband Genie. Following the network rollout of a new 10Gbps capable fibre optic network by Highland Broadband, residents of Halkirk can now get a number of different speed packages up to 8Gbps symmetrical upload and download speeds.<\/p>\n
Colin Woodward, managing director of Highland Broadband, said: \u201cWe are proud to be able to bring the UK\u2019s fastest fibre broadband network to the village of Halkirk.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe are delighted with the number of residents who have signed up for our service and look forward to rolling out our network further throughout the Highlands. Access to good, reliable digital infrastructure is so important for everyone in a community and we\u2019re pleased to be delivering this across Scotland.\u201d<\/p>\n
Maree Todd MSP is delighted that Halkirk is now better connected.<\/p>\n
Maree Todd, MSP Caithness, Sutherland and Ross said: \u201cI\u2019m thrilled to see the progress in Halkirk, a village that was once home to some of the slowest internet speeds in the UK.<\/p>\n
\u201cThanks to the efforts of Highland Broadband and financial support from the Scottish National Investment Bank, the village will now benefit from some of the fastest internet speeds in the UK. Investing in rural broadband infrastructure goes far beyond convenience \u2013 it\u2019s about ensuring rural communities have a level playing field, keeping them connected, competitive, and resilient in an increasingly digital world.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe shift towards remote working since Covid has accelerated the need for fast and reliable internet. Improved connectivity supports remote working and makes rural areas more attractive places to live and work, which is vital for addressing depopulation.\u201d<\/p>\n