Thousands of people in Dumfries and Galloway’s “hardest-to-reach locations” are set to benefit from faster internet.
People in Beattock, Eskdalemuir, Johnstonebridge, Kirkcolm, Leswalt and Waterbeck are among the latest to benefit from the Scottish Government’s Reaching 100 Per Cent (R100) broadband programme, which is being delivered by Openreach.
The latest stage of the programme will benefit nearly 9,000 businesses and homes, with overall demand for full fibre services in Dumfries and Galloway topping 47-per cent – well above the Scottish average of 38-per cent.
Business Minister Richard Lochhead said: “Our Reaching 100-per cent digital connectivity programme is bringing faster, reliable broadband to more people across Scotland every single day.
“Reliable internet isn’t just a convenience. It provides better access to education and public services, enables remote working and provides more opportunities for rural businesses to reach global markets. That’s why we’re committed to extending coverage where upgrades are most needed.
The R100 contracts are being delivered by digital network Openreach and its build partners.
Openreach partnership director Robert Thorburn said: “There’s been more good progress in our efforts to connect Dumfries and Galloway’s hardest-to-reach locations.
“Our engineers are showing real innovation to upgrade these communities, putting them on a digital par with city centres and bringing a welcome economic boost.
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“We’re excited to see more people moving to full fibre services, and we’d encourage local businesses and residents to check online to see if they can get a faster, more reliable service.”
Full fibre broadband offers speeds more than 30 times faster than the Scottish Government’s original target, providing a connection that supports everything from seamless streaming and online gaming to enhanced productivity for businesses.
People can check if their property is ready for connection and register for updates at www.openreach.co.uk/r100. Once the technology is available, customers can arrange upgrades through their preferred provider.