Balquhidder Community Broadband Community Interest Company

The Company has been responsible for building a full fibre broadband network within the communities of Balquhidder and Balquhidder Station. This has been done in partnership with Bogons Limited who provide the internet services. The Company were encouraged in this activity by Community Broadband Scotland who promised grant funding. They were also supported by Stirling Council and LEADER who did infact provide funding. This allowed initial activity, the creation of the Company and some material purchases. The funding process with Community Broadband Scotland proved more difficult than expected and eventually after much delay and on legal advice we had to pull back from the process just before Scottish Government, disbanded Community Broadband Scotland. However, the partnership with Bogons Limited had been agreed, materials had been purchased and some work had commenced. Broadband Delivery UK, the national government broadband funder, were at this stage launching their Gigabit Broadband Voucher scheme to which Bogons Limited were able to sign up and a small number of vouchers were obtained. This initial scheme quickly ran out of its original funding allocation and there was a delay before the next Gigabit Voucher Scheme was launched. Since then and until recently there has been issues with Bogons being able to join the scheme, Much of this was beyond our control and due to erroneous data held by government and we went through a process of being told yes you can apply, everything is paused, to no you are not eligible. The pandemic caused further delays as communication with BDUK became problematic. As work had begun and some considerable momentum had been achieved the project continued, as it needed to meet community demand, with Bogons funding the purchase of materials after BCB's initial funding ran out. However, after several years of engagement with our MP Bogons has finally been accepted into the current Gigabit Broadband Voucher scheme and together we we are in the process of claiming the vouchers required to reinburse Bogons with their capital expenditure and to start collecting monthly service fees. The target is to complete this process by the end of February 2026. Moving forward, with the partnership project finally on a firmer financial footing BCB and Bogons are looking at ways to improve current provision by the installation of generators to maintain the service during power outages and despite the demand not being there to increase delivery speeds above 1 Gbps. which is a target now set by the Scottish Government R100 scheme. The Company acknowledges the essential role which Bogons Limited has played in delivering this community based broadband project as without their commitment it would never have happened. The real beneficiaries are the community who have an exceptional service which delivers more than just gigabit broadband the BCB and Bogons partnership is now a firm part of the community itself and its well being.