Auchterarder, the Perthshire town that is home to the world-famous Gleneagles Hotel, is set to embark on a ground-breaking initiative to install its own superfast broadband and WiFi zone throughout the town centre and outlying neighbourhoods.
Assisted by leading UK WiFi expert, 802 Event WiFi, Auchterarder Community Partnership will make the leap to 21st Century-style communications without any input from traditional communications giant such as BT.
“We need to take ownership of our communications services and can’t wait any longer for the traditional carriers to get it to us, if they can at all”, said Auchterarder Community Partnership’s Secretary, Geoff Gelder.
“We have very poor broadband accessibility in the area and despite assurances for the last couple of years that superfast broadband for Auchterarder is on its way, nothing has happened.
“As a result, the Community Partnership, with the full support of local traders, as well as Perth and Kinross Council has decided to take the initiative and press on with our own broadband and WiFi installation.”
The 802 Event WiFi’s superfast broadband and WiFi deployment will provide full interactivity throughout the town and especially in the town’s 1.5 mile-long Long Street, the heart of Auchterarder.
Felix Gibson, 802 Event WiFi’s chief executive said: "There is nothing to stop the Community Partnership succeeding in its ambition to install the necessary technology, all of which is readily available on the market.
“By providing superfast broadband for the town’s residents and WiFi in its centre, local traders will be able to interact with their customers to provide them, on a regular basis, with all the reasons why they should do their shopping in the town rather than travelling into Perth or elsewhere.
“The WiFi installation will provide Auchterarder’s traders with an invaluable insight into their customers’ behaviour and even more important, an outstanding commercial opportunity to interact with them as well as promoting and marketing forthcoming offers and new products.”
Mr Gelder said: “The Community Partnership is working with the Council to have Auchterarder join the Scottish Government’s Business Improvement District (BID) programme to help bring about further improvements in the town and, as a result, help bring it greater prosperity.
“The Community Partnership’s initiative, we believe, will put Auchterarder on the map and we see no reason why the model that is being successfully applied here cannot be rolled-out to similar towns in Perthshire including Crieff, Muthill and Braco.”
Supporting Scotland's Towns