Breakthrough Broadband Enabling Technology (BET), pioneered by leading specialist network access company The Kenton Group, is set to go live this month in rural Scotland through internet service provider Scotnet. The technology, which increases broadband reach and bandwidth, will dramatically improve broadband services for businesses and residents.

Telephone exchanges in Longformacus and Ettrick Valley in the Scottish Borders and Portsoy, Aboyne, Auchenblae and Inverbervie in Aberdeenshire are to go live with the technology, which was selected by Scotnet following a trial period that began last September. The project has received substantial funding from the LEADER programme and its community driven €1m Rural Broadband Challenge Fund to fulfil the requirement to deliver an efficient level of broadband service in rural areas.


John Larkin“Until now, Scottish communities outside the reach of their local telephone exchanges have had to cope with poor broadband access in comparison to neighbours close by whose homes and businesses sit within the 5km signal range previously achievable,” said John Larkin, managing director of The Kenton Group.

“No affordable solution has been developed until now and we are delighted that Scotnet is leading the way in Scotland with the installation of this long reaching broadband technology, which has the ability to double the signal from the exchange to around 12km. It is a per user solution, so is ideal for rural locations and is affordable for areas with only a handful of households.”

BET enables broadband access and increased connectivity in locations which have little or no current access to broadband and it is believed to be the longest reaching technology available on the market. It has the capability to double a telephone exchange’s signal from the normal 5km reach limit to 12km using existing 1 or 2 pair copper cables.

In addition to its long reach, BET is also unique in its ability to deliver to the end user ADSL and normal phone services, just like any other household or business receives when it subscribes to a traditional broadband service. This means that the end user has the freedom to select their broadband from any supplier in what is a competitive market. This differs to other similar equipment available that does not allow the flexibility of moving from one internet service provider to another.

Scotnet Director Stuart Glendinning said: “We are very impressed by the BET solution and during our trials we have seen firsthand the significant benefits it has to offer, not only with its means for long reaching broadband access. In our trials it has proved to be faster and more reliable than ADSL, being resilient to fluctuations and offering a more stable connection.

“Residents have had to wait a substantial amount of time for a solution that is viable, both technologically and financially, but working in partnership we are now able to deliver improved broadband services to our customers through BET. The benefits of good broadband are tremendous not only for the users but also for the local economy, boosting business development, house prices and the appeal of the locations.”

Working with The Kenton Group, Scotnet has helped to define a working BET model and, in addition to the areas now live with BET, funding applications are being processed for several other communities to receive the technology.