Cabinet Secretary for Finance, John Swinney, has announced today that Scotland’s rural areas are to have their telephone exchanges upgraded, providing increased access to broadband.
The Finance Secretary was speaking after talks with BT aimed at securing increased broadband capacity in some remote areas where access is not currently possible. Mr Swinney said: ‘While Scotland has high levels of broadband availability, the Scottish Government and BT recognise the frustration felt in some rural communities where people are unable to obtain a service.
‘After exploring the many challenges with BT, we are pleased that a way forward has been found allowing an exchange upgrade programme to take place. This will enable more residents and businesses to benefit from a broadband service which people in most areas of Scotland already enjoy’.
The exchanges to be upgraded are expected to be agreed in the coming weeks, following further discussions between the Scottish Government and BT. Exchanges operating at or approaching capacity will be given early consideration.
This development follows the completion earlier this year of a separate Scottish Government project to extend affordable broadband services. 2,100 businesses and households are now benefiting from that initiative.
Highlands and Islands MSP, Dave Thompson has welcomed the development, delighted that telephone exchanges in the region will now be upgraded.
Very good news about some rural BT exchanges being upgraded to take broadband. Is there anyway of finding out what the timetable is about this—and especially–when will the Achnamara, Lochgilphead exchange be upgraded?
Bill McCondichie, Achnamara, Argyll.
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As ever—- the SNP government moving Scotland forward
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great to see british telecommunications plc continuing to invest for the future . were the snp to get their way there would be no nationwide company like bt working in scotland and we would be left behind
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