• 
• 
• 
• 
  • Applying For
  • Business Resources
  • Careers and Retirement
  • Citizens Advice
  • Community Council
  • Council Tax and Housing
  • Education and Learning
    • Arts
    • Learning in the Community
    • Libraries
    • Pre-School
    • Schools
      • Ask Kenny
      • ACE
      • eco-schools
      • Getting to school
      • Music instruction
      • LNCT
      • Psychological services
      • Quality in schools
      • School Catering
      • School holidays
      • Duns schools
      • Earlston schools
      • Eyemouth schools
      • Galashiels schools
      • Hawick schools
      • Jedburgh schools
      • Kelso schools
      • Peebles schools
      • Selkirk schools
    • Projects
  • Emergency Contacts
  • Environment
  • Housing Services
  • Living and Social Care
  • Local Democracy
  • Online Services
  • Planning and Building
  • Your Street
• 
• 

In 2003 Scottish Borders Council, working with Dumfries & Galloway Council began work on the South of Scotland (SoS) Broadband project.  Funded by the Scottish Executive, the £32m project is to provide broadband technology to schools, libraries and other Council premises.

In November 2006, the Pathfinder contract was signed with THUS plc and work is now well underway to connect all schools before the end of 2008.    

The SoS Broadband contract specifies a range of different equipment to be used in schools.  The equipment for individual schools is determined by the school’s location and the availability or requirement for other telecommunication infrastructure in the immediate vicinity.  Equipment includes:

• Fibre optic cable: Underground high bandwidth data cable  
• Microwave and radio: Microwaves are high frequency radio waves (radio frequency fields) and, like visible radiation (light), are part of the electromagnetic spectrum.  Microwaves are used primarily for TV broadcasting, satellite TV, radar for air and sea navigational aids, weather radar, and telecommunications including mobile phones. They are also used in industry for processing materials, in medicine for heat related treatments and in kitchens for cooking food.

Is the equipment safe?

Everything we are being told, both by THUS plc and from independent sources, is that all Pathfinder Network Radio Equipment and Installations comply fully with all current regulations and guidelines as issued by ICNIRP and National Radiation Protection Board (NRPB), covering the control of health risk related to human exposure to microwave radiation.

The basic questions

We have prepared a list of questions that we hope will give you an understanding of the project and its implications for your children without you needing higher physics or mathematics. The Q & A sheet can be downloaded together with supplementary technical information.