Bank-backed firm Highland Broadband has helped make history in the north of Scotland, with pupils at Wick High School taking part in a live call with an astronaut aboard the International Space Station (ISS).
The landmark event showcased the real-world impact of the Scottish National Investment Bank's investment in rural digital infrastructure, bringing world-class connectivity to communities that have traditionally been underserved. In this case, it helped pupils speak directly with Canadian astronaut Josh Kutryk as the International Space Station passed overhead.
Organisers had initially been told the school's broadband connection would not be capable of supporting the event, but engineers from Highland Broadband stepped in to extend their network and provide the gigabit-capable speeds needed to make the live link possible.
While the event captured imaginations, it also demonstrated the wider value of investment in digital infrastructure across rural Scotland.
The Bank's £60 million investment supports the rollout of digital infrastructure helping to tackle connectivity challenges in rural communities and small towns across Scotland.
Aligning with the Bank's Place mission, the investment is unlocking economic opportunities, supporting new ways of working and improving access to services, education and information for homes, businesses and community facilities.
Gavin Rodgers, Chief Executive Officer of Highland Broadband, said:
"As a business that prides itself on being local, nothing gives us greater pleasure than when we can use our infrastructure to help the communities we work in. This is an example that will live long in the memory of everyone associated with Highland Broadband.
"There are countless other vitally important impacts of this investment on the society and economy of rural Scotland which do not grab the headlines in the same way as a space mission, but can still be life-changing for those involved.”
The Bank’s investment is already delivering economic benefits. Earlier this year, Highland Broadband announced it had nearly doubled its Inverness workforce, creating skilled jobs to support network expansion across the region. The company has grown its Inverness team to more than 50 employees and plans further recruitment as it continues its rollout across rural Scotland.
Andy Clapp, Executive Director, Investment Portfolio Management, at The Bank said:
"This is a brilliant example of how investment in infrastructure can create opportunities that would otherwise be out of reach for many communities.
"Our investment in Highland Broadband is helping bring world-class connectivity to rural Scotland, strengthening communities, supporting economic growth and creating high-quality jobs.
"The connection between Wick High School and the International Space Station is an inspiring story, but it also demonstrates something much bigger. Reliable digital infrastructure helps people access education, employment and services regardless of geography.
"That directly supports our Place mission by helping communities thrive, while also contributing to our Net Zero mission by enabling more people and organisations to work, learn and collaborate digitally."
For the pupils of Wick High School, the opportunity to speak to someone in space was a once-in-a-lifetime experience. For rural communities across Scotland, it was also a powerful demonstration of how investment in digital infrastructure can create new opportunities, support high-quality employment and help ensure communities can fully participate in modern life.
