Scots ministers make broadband pledge
27 April 2005
Homes across Scotland will have access to broadband by the end of 2005, the Scottish Executive has announced.
Ministers have reportedly negotiated with BT to enable 378 exchanges in 20 local authorities throughout the Scottish Highlands and Islands for broadband connectivity that have been prohibitively expensive for commercial broadband operators to provide any service.
Under the terms of the partnership agreement between the Scottish Executive and BT, BT will update a network of exchanges to allow 51,000 homes and 5,400 businesses access to broadband by the end of this year.
The deal was struck under the Executive's Broadband for Scotland's Rural and Remote Areas initiative and £24 million worth of funding will be provided under the strategy, with a further £5 million from the European Regional Development Fund programme. Engineering work is due to begin this week, enabling availability of the first broadband services during the summer.
Jim Wallace, enterprise minister for the Scottish Executive, commented: "By providing access to broadband technology in Scotland and the huge benefits it brings, we are putting in place an important business and educational tool to facilitate economic growth."
BT was selected as the supplier following an open procurement process begun in July 2004.
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