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Cabinet Secretary for Finance and Sustainable Growth and local MSP John Swinney welcomed the news from the Scottish Government that 3,800 more householders and businesses around Scotland will soon be able to access broadband for the first time.
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. A government contract worth up to £3.3 million has now been awarded to Avanti Caleonian Broadband Ltd to extend affordable broadband services.
“Extending affordable broadband services to hard- to-reach areas is to be warmly welcomed,” the MSP said. “This will go some way to assisting many of those who have previously been prevented from accessing broadband due to their location. I have been a firm champion of extending broadband access for some time and I am pleased that further progress is being made.
“Being able to access broadband in our rural areas will assist businesses to thrive and greatly help the quality of life of local residents.”

Commenting, fellow MSP Murdo Fraser said: “It is important that the blackspots in Angus and Perthshire are wiped out and that broadband is available throughout the area.  Businesses in Angus and Perthshire that want to have broadband connection are losing out and this is holding back the local economy.  With this new broadband contract, remote areas that currently do not have connectivity to broadband, such as parts of the Angus glens and parts of Highland Perthshire, will soon be able to gain access. 

“I will continue to put pressure on the Scottish Government until the whole of Angus and Perthshire is broadband enabled.  It is clear to me that too many people in Angus and Perthshire are receiving a second class service without broadband which is totally unacceptable and is holding back business growth in remote areas.”

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.
More information at www.broadbandforscotland.co.uk