Tiree's community-owned broadband to switch off after 21 years

A Hebridean island's community-owned broadband network is to be switched off this summer after 21 years of service.

Tiree Broadband's system of radio antennas was set up to provide internet connections until a mainstream service became available.

Openreach has rolled out full-fibre broadband across the island - home to about 650 people - under a Scottish government contract.

Phyl Meyer, chief officer of Tiree Community Development Trust, said half of the community scheme's customers had already moved to the other network.

Meyer said the remaining customers had been given advance notice of the planned switch-off.

He said: "Tiree Broadband was set up because there wasn't adequate provision available on Tiree at the time.

"It was always the plan once mainstream provision was available to everyone in Tiree the service would eventually close."

Meyer said the success of the community service was thanks to a dedicated team of volunteers and the specialists who set it up.

The system was backed up by Elon Musk's Starlink system when a subsea fibre cable connecting the island to the mainland was damaged during Storm Amy last October.