All rural communities in Scotland will gain access to high-speed broadband by 2020, Holyrood has been told.

Speaking in a debate on connectivity in remote parts of the country, rural affairs minister Richard Lochhead said delivering next-generation internet connections to these areas is a "key priority" as part of the government's digital strategy.

He highlighted the importance of fast broadband and 4G mobile data services being extended to isolated locations, rather than just Scotland's towns and cities.

According to Mr Lochhead, MSPs have urged Ofcom to demand that network operators improve existing levels of 3G mobile broadband coverage, with signals currently reaching just two-thirds of the population and 41 per cent geographically.

This is well below the UK-wide target of 90 per cent of the population, he noted.

"If that's not immediately achievable, then we at least should have a specific target for coverage in Scotland," the rural affairs minister insisted.

He went on to state the devolved government wants to see "significant progress" towards improving the country's broadband infrastructure achieved by 2015, with universal next-generation access set to be reached five years after that year.

To ensure this goal is met, MSPs are currently working to secure the largest possible chunk of the Conservative-Liberal Democrat coalition's £530 million of broadband funding, Mr Lochhead added.

"We want all parts of rural Scotland to have access to next-generation broadband to ensure a bright future for our rural economy," he commented. "We believe that a world-class broadband infrastructure will underpin the future of the digital economy in Scotland."

In April last year, the Scottish government closed its Broadband Reach Project after running out of subsidy.

The initiative, which launched in 2008, saw more than 2,400 households and businesses across the country connected to broadband for the first time.

According to the government, more than 50 per cent of those who registered for the scheme gained access to a broadband line. 

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