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Further broadband extension
26/06/2008
Thousands more householders and businesses around Scotland will soon be able to access broadband for the first time after a contract worth up to £3.3 million was awarded to Avanti Caledonian Broadband Ltd to extend affordable broadband services.
The Scottish Government asked members of the public to identify access difficulties so that the 'reach' problem - where people cannot access broadband due to their distance from an ADSL-enabled telephone exchange - could be addressed. In total 3,800 eligible households and businesses have registered.
Enterprise Minister Jim Mather said:
"I'm delighted that a contract has now been awarded to extend broadband availability around Scotland.
"In this 21st century, as many people as possible should have broadband access. It is a vital tool for business, helping drive economic growth, and is now used by ever more households as standard.
"Scotland currently has over 99 per cent broadband availability and we have been monitoring access difficulties - that's why we asked those without access to come forward and register so that we could build a clear picture of the extent of the problem. I'm pleased that every single eligible household and business should now benefit from affordable broadband access over the coming months, giving business a boost and enhancing the lives of householders."
Areas across the country will benefit from the roll out, from the East Highlands to the Scottish Borders, Tayside and Argyll. Some of the larger clusters which will be covered by the contract include parts of North Sanday and Rousay in Orkney, Jura, Angus Glens, Cumbernauld, Ettrick Valley and Skye and Wester Ross.
Work on connections will begin in July and the programme will finish by May 2009.
Avanti Caledonian Broadband Ltd will use a mix of technologies to connect those out of reach, including satellite and wireless.