Superfast broadband on the way for hundreds more Angus homes

The next stage of the £410 million project is set to pass 73,000 more homes and businesses nationwide, announced as the Scottish rollout sped past the half way mark.

Letham, Longforgan and Tealing will benefit from the Digital Scotland project for the first time, while the existing fibre network will be extended into Brechin. The rollout is expected to reach another 1,700 premises in Angus.

The first connections are due to go live by the end of this year, as engineers from BT’s local network business, Openreach, continue work on the ground.

The announcement comes on the same day as the UK Government announced the UK-wide rollout of superfast broadband has now passed more than three million UK homes and businesses. The rollout is on track to reach 95 per cent of the UK by 2017 and is now reaching around 5,000 additional premises every day.

The Digital Scotland rollout has now passed more than 394,000 premises since it started last year. It means the project is more than half way to its target of making the technology available to 750,000 properties by the end of March 2018.

Fibre broadband enables multiple users in a home or business to access the internet, download and share large files at the same time and more quickly than ever before. As the higher speeds (up to 80Mbps*) become available, anyone interested in signing up for fibre-based services should contact their broadband service provider.

Scottish Government Deputy First Minister, John Swinney, said: “It is fantastic news that a further 73,000 homes and businesses will be able to receive fibre broadband thanks to the Digital Scotland Superfast Broadband programme. Every day we are continuing to build on our digital infrastructure –supporting the Scottish Government’s commitment to deliver first-rate connectivity in Scotland by 2020, ensuring we are a world class digital nation.

“By reaching out to those communities who would not have been covered through by the commercial market, such as Colpy, we are ensuring that the connections which are made will bring Angus councillor Sheila Hands, vice convener of economic development said: “This is great news for Angus. Over seventeen hundred homes and business able to connect to fibre broadband in the coming months thanks to the programme.

“It’s fantastic to see areas like Letham and Longforgan being able to connect for the first time – which will be a big boost for the community. Residents are reminded that in order to benefit from fibre once it goes live that they need to contact their service provider.”

Digital Economy Minister Ed Vaizey said: “Our nationwide rollout of superfast broadband has now reached more than 3 million homes and businesses in the UK, with more than 394,000 in Scotland alone now able to connect to the new fibre network. The UK Government is investing £120m to roll out superfast broadband in Scotland and I’m delighted at the tremendous progress being made which will see around 95 per cent of Scotland able to access superfast speeds by March 2018.”

The new locations announcement follows news earlier this week that almost £18 million will be made available in Scotland to take the rollout of fibre broadband further.

Brendan Dick, director of BT Scotland, said: “We’re making good headway with the Digital Scotland rollout, passing 7,000 more premises a week. Coupled with our commercial upgrades it means more than 1.7 million Scottish homes and businesses can now choose to connect with much higher speeds.

“Across the UK, 23 million premises are now covered by BT’s open access network, with three million of those enabled under the BDUK programme. Our Openreach engineers have worked tirelessly to connect some of the most remote parts of Scotland, from Shetland and the Hebrides to Rothesay in Argyll and Bute, and now places like Tealing will follow.

“On the back of strong take-up of fibre services in partnership areas, BT is releasing additional funds which will enable us to go even further at no extra cost to the taxpayer much earlier than originally expected. Around £17.8 million is available for Scotland to help us reach even more communities like the ones we’re announcing today.”