Bungee business gets social media bounce after broadband boost
A Perth and Kinross bungee jump business has become a social media sensation – and AI could take it to the next level.
Highland Fling, based in Killiecrankie, upgraded its broadband network through Openreach last year, as part of the Scottish Government’s £600m+ Reaching 100% (R100) programme.
With Full Fibre connections at the office and on the bridge, jumpers can now listen to music while taking the leap, office staff can complete card transactions without desperately searching for a signal, and videos can be uploaded in minutes rather than hours.
That’s good news for the 860,000 TikTok followers the business has attracted with its videos – some of which have had millions of views.
The upgrade means Highland Fling has now been able to do live streams for those brave enough to watch. Previous attempts had failed because of the poor connection.
And while staff used to have to spend hours at the end of the day sending visitors pictures of their leaps, the process is now much quicker.
“Getting Full Fibre installed in the office has been perfect,” said Joely Stevenson, Marketing Manager at Highland Fling. “When we had to send pictures at the end of the day it could take hours – now it takes five minutes. It was so restricting.
“It makes the customers happier and it means we can focus on the things that matter. We really appreciate the impact Full Fibre has had on our business.”
Highland Fling is now looking at how it could take its videos to the next level, which could see an AI system used so jumpers are sent videos of their leap before they even get back to the office.
Robert Thorburn, Openreach Partnership Director for Scotland, said: “It’s great to see another rural business that is benefiting from an upgrade to Full Fibre broadband.
“More than 1,000 businesses in Perth and Kinross now have access to faster, more reliable broadband through Openreach’s network – and we’ll be reaching even more as we continue our build in the area.”
Business Minister Richard Lochhead said: “Highland Fling’s story is a brilliant example of how improved digital connectivity can help a rural business reach global audiences, embrace innovation and grow sustainably.
“It’s precisely why the Scottish Government is investing over £600 million of investment through our Reaching 100% programme, ensuring more businesses across Scotland can benefit from faster, more reliable broadband. I look forward to seeing how Highland Fling continue to push boundaries with AI and digital content and also seeing more rural businesses across Scotland capitalise on improved digital connectivity as the R100 rollout continues.”
People living in Perth and Kinross can see if they can upgrade to full fibre by visiting Openreach’s full fibre checker.
Full Fibre technology offers a faster, more reliable connection that keeps up with the demands of today’s digital world.
Whether streaming your favourite show, gaming online, making a video call, managing your finances, or running a business, full fibre keeps everything running smoothly.
Packages from the widest range of broadband providers are also increasingly competitively priced, meaning people may pay similar, or even less, per month than their current bill for a much-improved service.
Openreach’s full fibre network now reaches more than 19 million properties, and the company plans to extend this to 25 million homes and businesses by the end of 2026, with a belief it can reach as many as 30 million by the end of the decade – with the right investment conditions.
