Leader: An eco-friendly superhighway

Published on Monday 12 December 2011 00:00

THE SNP’s pledge to dual the A9 and A96 by 2025 at an eventual cost of about £2.5 billion was greeted with much delight by road users in northern Scotland and with a lot of newspaper headlines and praise.

Spending the same on a lot of wire and cables that go underground, as BT has announced it will do, is in danger of passing by unnoticed. And yet BT’s move is far more significant for Scotland’s economic future than some miles of – admittedly much- needed – tarmac. Fast communications capable of transmitting large quantities of information are arguably becoming more important than motorways.

They are certainly more important for the environment. Historically, economic growth has been associated with the need to build more roads, which are routinely opposed by environmentalists, even though they will still be needed when all vehicles are converted to run on low-carbon fuels, such as hydrogen or electricity.

Superfast broadband technology, however, is the modern means of promoting growth and with much less harmful environmental consequences. It is also essential if Scotland is to remain competitive.

So BT’s decision that superfast broadband will become available in 34 exchange areas, including the four major cities, by the end of 2012 is extremely good news. It may be a lot less visible than digging up miles of countryside, but ultimately it will be more important for Scottish business and communities.

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McNasty

Tuesday, December 13, 2011 at 07:19 AM

The A9 and A96 upgrades are along time in coming. Hopefully this will boost the expansion of Inverness and the Highlands.

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ITMan67

Monday, December 12, 2011 at 11:59 PM

Aberdeen and Aberdeenshire are and will remain, because of North Sea Oil, the main contributor of cash on the table to the Scottish Economy That being the case, why No Hi Speed Broadband . The funny thing is, most of Aberdeen and associated towns e.g Westhill where I live ,are wired for this service re the defunct Aberdeen Cable Company ! Should be Easy Peazy I would have thought to crack the service into life. But Ho Hum what do I know. Maybe we should declare UDI.

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unimpressedone

Monday, December 12, 2011 at 09:17 AM

Get a grip. You still ned good roads to transport the increase in goods being traded. They are at least as important as good communications.

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