The Hebridean island of Coll is to have mobile phone coverage for the first time.
Residents and businesses will benefit from a £165,000 partnership project to bring a signal to the Argyll island.
The working partnership between community run organisation Development Coll, the Scottish Government and Vodafone, is part of the Scottish Government’s Demonstrating Digital programme.
The project will also test the model of community ownership of a mobile mast in an area not previously seen as commercially viable by mobile operators.
The construction phase of the mobile phone mast has now begun on the island, with the community owned mast due to be operational by the end of the summer of 2014.
Deputy First Minister, Nicola Sturgeon said: “The mobile phone service will make a huge difference to the community, businesses and tourists on the Isle of Coll, as well as for critical emergency services on the island such as the local GP and fire and rescue.
“This is one of a number of projects that the Scottish Government has developed, in conjunction with local partners, as part of our Demonstrating Digital programme, which aims to test new technologies and business models, accelerating our ambition to be a world class digital nation by 2020.”
Lavinia Maclean-Bristol, chairwoman of Development Coll said: “This is an exciting new development for Coll, and Development Coll is very grateful to the Scottish Government for choosing us to pioneer mobile services throughout the island.”
Fergal Kelly, chief technology officer, Vodafone UK said: “Delivering mobile infrastructure to hard to reach rural areas is extremely difficult.
“We have been able to bring mobile coverage to the island by working in partnership with the Scottish Government and Development Coll. This means people and businesses on the island will be able to benefit from the huge social and economic benefits that having mobile coverage and access to the internet can bring.”