Brechin residents will see the speed of their broadband double thanks to upgrades to the network by BT.
Around 4,000 homes in the Angus town will benefit from the upgrades as part of the roll-out of BT’s next generation service delivered over copper lines.
The investment will make available download speeds of up to 20 megabits per second more than double the fastest speed previously available from BT.
The technology firm yesterday announced it was upgrading its system in 24 towns in Scotland, benefiting 80,000 homes and businesses.
Mairi Evans, Angus Council economic development spokesperson, said: “This investment is good news for Brechin and further great news for Scotland.
“It’s good to see more communities benefiting from faster broadband through the upgrade of BT’s copper network.
“This technology will create new opportunities, giving our businesses a competitive edge as well as opening new doors for people of every age and background.”
The move takes the number of homes and businesses across the country able to access the faster broadband to around 78%.
Nicola Sturgeon, deputy First Minister and cabinet secretary for infrastructure, said: “Broadband, just like roads and railways, is a vital part of Scotland’s infrastructure. It is essential that households and businesses everywhere in Scotland have access to high-speed connectivity to enable our economy to thrive.”
This investment in the copper network is in addition to BT’s £2.5 billion roll-out of fibre-based broadband which will bring even faster speeds to around two-thirds of UK premises by spring 2014.
BT Scotland is also seeking to work in partnership with the Scottish Government and its agencies to extend fibre broadband to the remaining parts of the country that are harder to reach.
Brendan Dick, BT Scotland director, added: “Increasingly, broadband is an essential part of everyday life, whether you’re Christmas shopping online, sharing photographs and videos with the family, working in an office or as a homeworker, improving your education or just wanting to download a film or programme online.”
rmclaren@thecourier.co.uk