Village wins superfast broadband

Published on 20/03/2012 00:00

A RURAL Scottish village is among the first areas of the UK to get access to “superfast” broadband.

Residents in Innerleithen, in Peeblesshire, can now order fibre broadband, as BT begins the final phase of work on installing the service.

The town was named as one of ten winners of BT’s Race to Infinity competition, in which communities voted to be the next area to have their online connectivity upgraded.

The telecoms company expects more than 2,000 local households and companies to join the high-speed network.

James McClafferty, BT Scotland’s partnerships director, said it would “revolutionise and empower the community”. He added: “It has the power to transform every aspect of people’s lives – from education to entertainment – and helps make flexible working much more viable.”

Campaign manager Brian McCrow said: “We are looking forward to the difference this will make to our tourism and other businesses, our children’s education, our ability to be in touch with friends and family in the UK and overseas and, last but not least, for people to work from home to give them more leisure time and reduce their carbon impact.”