VodafoneThree Merger Plans Subsea Cable for Shetland Islands
VodafoneThree Merger Plans Subsea Cable for Shetland Islands
By Amber Jackson, Data Centre Magazine
June 16, 2025
VodafoneThree launches feasibility study for subsea cable linking Shetland to mainland Scotland, boosting connectivity and enabling data centre development
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.
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