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Internet services set to make a splash - in sewers

Posted on: Monday, 2 February 2004, 06:00 CST

SCOTTISH Water and Fibrelink, an Irish cabling company, are to launch a pilot scheme to deliver broadband internet services through the nation's sewers.

Fibre optic cables running through the system will enable the Europarc centre in Rosyth to be the first place to receive the service.

If the pilot scheme is successful it will be rolled out across the country, generating valuable revenue for Scottish Water. It could pave the way for cheap, simple and immediate broadband internet access in rural areas.

Scotland has more than 24,000 miles of sewers linking remote cottages and farms to the largest cities and towns.

Chris Banks, Scottish Water's commercial director, said: "This type of loose lay technology, as it is known, is a first for the water industry in the United Kingdom.

"We are not attempting to become communications experts, but we are playing landlord to the real communication experts and allowing our sewer network to play host to a new communications infrastructure."

The project will begin at Dunfermline waste water treatment works, from where the cable will be fed into the pipe network and on to street telecommunications cabinets or directly into company offices.

Banks added: "There is also scope for Scottish Water to reduce its own telecom costs for voice and data transfer between Scottish Water buildings.

"We are also expecting, in future, to benefit from the revenue we receive from the lease agreement should the pilot prove successful."

Fibrelink's 22mm wide cables can be pushed for up to three miles along sewers, reducing the need to dig up roads.

The company claims the system is around 70 per cent cheaper than traditional cable laying methods.

Because cables can be pulled out again, they are easier to repair.

They are less likely to be damaged because sewers lie further underground than conventional pipes.

And Scottish Water may be able to use the system to pinpoint breakages faults in its sewers.

Fibrelink has set up similar projects in Switzerland and Germany, but this is its first in the UK.

Commercial director Elfed Thomas said the company had invested around GBP 250,000 in the project in Scotland so far.

He added: "Scotland, and Scottish Water, is very much taking the lead in this area and we fully expect our system to be deployed to install fibre optic cable throughout the UK over the next few years.

"Advanced discussions are also taking place with other water and sewerage companies within England and Wales."

Scottish Water said any income from the project would be pumped back into the business and offset against customer charges. The company has been criticised for hitting businesses with large water bill increases over the past year.

Thames Water has used an alternative system to install broadband phone cables in its sewers in London.

Meanwhile Scottish & Southern Energy is pressing on with plans to run broadband phone services to homes through the electricity network.

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