Councillors in Aberdeenshire will this week be asked to consider a multimillion-pound investment in broadband services across the county.

Broadband provision in rural Scotland is among the worst in the UK, with more than 19,000 properties spread over 2,000 different postcode areas stuck with a slow internet connection.

Recognising the importance of providing at least 2Mbps broadband to all local properties, Aberdeenshire Council is set to consider £18 million of funding for the technology at a policy and resources meeting on Thursday (September 20th 2012).

Furthermore, the authority is keen to invest £2 million - alongside Aberdeen City Council - on rolling out an open-access fibre optic cable along the western side of Aberdeen, including a loop around the Westhill area.

Council leader Jim Gifford said: "This is an exciting and transformational project which will have huge benefits for our residents and businesses across Aberdeenshire."

As well as the potential public investment, private funding to improve broadband in the county has come from BT, which rolled out fibre optic services to the first homes and businesses in Aberdeen in April.

Add a comment

Comment

Your name

Your e-mail address

Comments (0)