Contact us Home Resources Customer stories Bringing best-in-class connectivity to the Aberdeenshire region When Aberdeenshire Council, NHS Grampian and Aberdeen City Council looked to deliver gigabit-capable connectivity to public sector sites, they turned to Neos Networks to futureproof their digital ambitions. COMPANY DETAILS Aberdeenshire Council www.aberdeenshire.gov.uk Public Sector Telecoms & Internet Network Solutions Download PDF SHARE THIS Full fibre has the power to be transformative for any region of the UK – creating jobs, increasing productivity and supporting remote work. But bringing next generation connectivity to Scotland, one of the most challenging locations anywhere in Europe for telecoms infrastructure, requires additional measures in order for the hardest-to-reach areas to gain access to superfast connectivity. Recognising this, the Government introduced the Scottish Broadband Voucher Scheme, taking the £5bn UK Gigabit Broadband Programme a step further by providing funding of up to £5,000. This will help areas that don’t fall into the scope of either Reaching 100% (R100) contracts, a Scottish initiative committed to providing access to superfast broadband of 30 Megabits per second (Mbps) to every home and business, or planned commercial investment. The work has already begun as local governments work closely with connectivity specialists to lay the foundations. Under the banner of the Aberdeen City Region Deal, Neos Networks, one of the UK’s leading connectivity providers, was awarded a £10.5m full fibre project by Aberdeenshire Council. This project is the latest collaboration in a 20-year-strong partnership between the two parties and will also benefit Aberdeen City Council and NHS Grampian as users of the fibre. Spanning up to 275km, it aims to underpin a world-class digital area – improving the delivery of public services to the community and boosting economic activity and quality of life. The challenge Neos Networks is tasked with connecting 190 public sector sites across Aberdeenshire in a way that will reduce disruptive construction and maximise the number of premises served for the available budget. The region spans up to 275km and, through this project, the Council aims to improve the delivery of public services to the community and boost economic activity and quality of life in the area. At the core is the need to deliver excellent public services; create new businesses and grow existing ones; attract further investment; support mobility; protect the environment and enhance the area’s attractiveness as a place to live and work. Additionally, the project will need to provide gigabit Dark Fibre out to public sector locations such as schools and NHS sites in a number of towns in a belt around Aberdeen. “Any steps taken towards better connectivity for Aberdeenshire are hugely welcome and we all back the work taken to roll out this vital part of the City Region Deal project. The benefits of access to better digital services will have a lasting economic impact and will make a difference to businesses in Aberdeenshire. This will, in turn, benefit the people of Aberdeenshire more generally.” Councillor Andy Kille, Aberdeenshire Council leader Neos Networks is creating a sustainable digital infrastructure that benefits the community in different ways. Opportunities like apprenticeships, work placements, school engagements, sector support and community group projects are being offered to support the local community. One apprentice is already in place and working in Neos Networks’ Programme Team, with three other apprentices in situ. “Working at Neos Networks during my placement has helped me build my skillset and my confidence. Most importantly, I am a step closer to passing my Foundation apprenticeship which will enable me to qualify for my chosen college course and prepare me for my future career.” Megan, Apprentice The outcome Sites have been split into six delivery segments based on geography. Work has begun from the core of the region, moving outwards from there to maximise contractor time and minimise downtime where possible. In December 2020, Neos Networks delivered gigabit-capable connectivity to 22 public sector sites across Aberdeen city, including institutions such as Aberdeen Royal Infirmary, Royal Cornhill Hospital, Woodend Hospital and Summerfield House, working through the disruption of the pandemic to complete the first segment on time and within budget. Once lit by a WAN provider, the initial batch of sites will benefit from full fibre connectivity, ensuring residents remain connected and business operations run smoothly. Education and healthcare organisations, who are in particular need of high-speed, high capacity connectivity, will be key beneficiaries. “We have been working successfully with Neos Networks for 20 years, evolving how we collaborate over time. In 2020, we decided to use their robust, ultra-fast connectivity to improve the delivery of public services in our region. All with the aim of boosting economic activity and quality of life for citizens and businesses in the local area. Neos Networks is conducting the work with a clear strategy from the outset which has enabled the total construction requirement to be reduced by around 80%, meaning the project is minimally disruptive.” Denise Wright, ICT Senior Project Leader, Aberdeenshire Council This project is part of Neos Networks’ wider mission to provide class-leading connectivity and data centre services that are high performance, cost efficient and offer a competitive edge, coupled with outstanding customer service. Our Net Promoter Score (NPS) from the customer on segment one of this project tracked at +80 – well above the industry average for customer satisfaction. Neos Networks is on track to deliver the next segment of the project (covering 41 sites including the Westhill Academy and the Kingswells Medical Practice) by spring 2021, establishing a world-class digital area and futureproofing it for years to come. 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Learn more SHARE THIS Related resources PRESS RELEASE Neos Networks connects first 22 public sector sites across Aberdeen city as part of £10.5m full fibre investment project 14 DECEMBER 2020 ARTICLE A full fibre future: How to realise the UK’s potential 2 FEBRUARY 2021 BUSINESS GENERAL CUSTOMER STORY Neos Networks and Grain deliver fibre-to-the-home to new £800 million development 26 JUNE 2020 PUBLIC SECTOR EBOOK Connected cities and places BROCHURE Dark Fibre ABOUT US About us Careers Our leadership team Contact us PRODUCTS & SERVICES Business Internet services Cloud Connect Colocation Dark Fibre Ethernet Optical connectivity Wide Area Network OUR NETWORK Our network Interactive network map Network map PDF Plant enquiries SECTORS Enterprise Public Sector Telecoms & Internet Network Solutions Wholesale RESOURCES Blog Customer stories eBooks Infographics Press releases Product brochures Videos CONTACT US Request a call back SALES 0345 070 1997 SUPPORT 0345 305 3337 © Neos Networks 2021 Complaints procedure Codes of practice Cookie Policy Privacy Policy Acceptable use policy Modern slavery statement Supplier charter Neos Networks By clicking “Accept All Cookies”, you agree to the storing of cookies on your device to enhance site navigation, analyze site usage, and assist in our marketing efforts. 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