Neil Watt, project director within Atkins' Civil Government and Infrastructure business, said: "We are very proud of the recognition we have received for this project through this prestigious award."
In 2011, Highlands and Islands Enterprise set the engineering challenge of enabling the delivery of next generation broadband to this remote region of Scotland by 2016. However, the dramatic geography and dispersed population of the region presented significant technical and cost challenges.
Design, engineering and project management consultancy Atkins responded by developing the business case and procurement strategy and by setting and evaluating the technical specification for the supply of superfast broadband to the region. Their work also included the technical modelling, mapping and cost analysis of the infrastructure required.
Watt added: "When it is completed, this highly complex project will enable a world-class, future-proofed infrastructure that will deliver superfast broadband to one of Europe's most remote areas, helping to improve both the economy and quality of life for the remote communities of the Highlands and Islands."
Atkins' project specification included the provision of 400km of subsea fibre optic cables linking the Inner/Outer Hebrides and Orkney Islands, and over 800km of fibre optic cable overall. By the end of June 2015, around 80,000 premises had access to services through the project.
