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The most complex and challenging broadband installation project in the UK has been announced.
It will include around 800km of high-speed fibre broadband cables underground and 400km of sub-sea cables, with 19 crossings to remote areas of the Highlands and Islands.
When complete, it is said 84% of the region will be connected to the network by 2016.
Highlands and Islands Enterprise (HIE) is leading the £146 million publicly funded project with BT.
HIE chief executive Alex Paterson said the ambitious works will bring numerous benefits to the north of Scotland.
"Digital connectivity is essential to today's social and business activity. High-speed fibre broadband in the Highlands and Islands will make a real contribution to our communities' prosperity, particularly for people in remote and rural areas," he said.
"It offers opportunities for new ways of working, innovation, enhanced public services, access to international markets and provides the infrastructure needed by business sectors like energy, life sciences, tourism and business services."
BT said the project is the most challenging it has ever undertaken in the UK.
Bill Murphy, BT Group managing director of next-generation broadband, said: "There are incredible obstacles to overcome, not least building a fibre network across some of the most rugged terrain in the UK. And we have huge distances to cover as we lay our cables over the hills and glens and under the sea.
"The unprecedented scale of this project is such that it can only be done in partnership and all of us in BT are looking forward to continuing the great working relationship that we've built up over many years with Highlands and Islands Enterprise."
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