VodafoneThree Calls for Subsea Cable for Shetland Islands
A new feasibility study was proposed last week for a subsea cable system that would aim to transform connectivity in the Shetland Islands in Scotland, UK.
The cable would run from mainland Scotland and provide essential infrastructure for high-speed internet and telecommunications services for local communities, as well as businesses. Proposed by the newly merged VodafoneThree, the company says such a cable would bring much needed digital resilience to the islands and support future connectivity demands, in addition to creating new opportunities such as the development of data centres.
“High-speed connectivity is a necessity in today’s world – both for economic growth and everyday life. It is particularly important that residents, businesses and visitors to our rural areas and islands are not left behind in the digital age,” explains Richard Lochhead MSP, Minister for Business.
“Private investment is critical to delivering this mission and I welcome VodafoneThree’s renewed commitment to help deliver the infrastructure needed to support our island communities, including its intention to undertake a feasibility study into a subsea connection between Shetland and the mainland.”
New cabling systems could support greater rural network coverage
The new cable system, which has been welcomed by the Scottish Government, seeks to support the islands’ Local Development Plan. This includes the development of new communications facilities to support sustainable economic opportunities across the region.
These activities follow the introduction of 4G to locations across the Shetland as part of an ongoing commitment to the Shared Rural Network (SRN) programme – a joint initiative between government and UK mobile network operators (MNOs), which aims to increase UK 4G coverage in rural areas.
“During our meetings in November 2024, with Shetland Islands Council, it was really apparent to me that connectivity is essential for everything from daily transactions to the growth of businesses and the economy,” says Nick Gliddon, Director at Vodafone Business.
“Through initiatives like the Shared Rural Network (SRN) programme, we are providing strong and reliable 4G coverage to our customers living in, working in and visiting Shetland. The proposed cable could transform the connectivity landscape for the islands further, bringing significant economic and social benefits.
“We remain committed to delivering the necessary infrastructure to ensure the continued prosperity and growth of the islands.”
Advancing 5G ambitions
As a need for faster connectivity surges, so does the need for reliable and secure subsea cables. Markets and Markets expects the global submarine cable system market size is expected to grow from US$18.2bn in 2024 and is expected to reach US$29.7bn by 2029.
This is critical for the data centre industry, as data centres can use subsea cables to connect to other data centres or cloud providers in different regions around the world.
It also enables them to leverage the benefits of computing and cloud services, leading to reduced costs, better performance and greater resilience.
Ultimately, the merger of Vodafone UK and Three UK is creating one of the most advanced 5G networks in Europe. The combined company is aiming to deliver on the UK government’s 2030 5G coverage ambitions by providing 90% of the nation’s population with 5G Standalone (5G SA) within three years and 99.95% by 2034.
The investment will exceed the UK Government’s Shared Rural Network minimum target, leading to the closure of the digital divide, with rural locations and communities benefitting from the connectivity across areas including health, education and agriculture.
Our sister publication, Mobile Magazine, also recently reported that the company has committed to investing US$14.9bn over the next decade to position the UK at the forefront of European 5G technology development.
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