Alex Salmond in pledge on superfast broadband

Superfast broadband services should be available across Scotland by 2020, First Minister Alex Salmond said yesterday.

The UK government announced last week that the Highlands and Islands had been successful in its bid to become one of four UK rural market-testing projects for the next generation of broadband.

At a meeting of the Convention of Highlands and Islands in Orkney, Mr Salmond said the Scottish Government wanted to see the whole of Scotland getting improved digital infrastructure.

He said: "The positive impact on business, education and public services of reliable and fast broadband could be enormous. The decision to approve the bid marks a major step forward for the Highlands and Islands, and we must now look to establishing a digital future for all.

"Last week, we published A Digital Ambition for Scotland, a paper setting out our ambitions for Scotland's digital economy. In the coming months, we will publish a detailed digital strategy setting out how we will ensure Scotland is best-placed to reap the benefits of the digital revolution."

The First Minister announced that Highlands and Islands Enterprise would match the pilot funding, with additional investment from the private sector.

The total commitment to the Highlands and Islands for the next generation broadband is likely to exceed 30 million. He said: "In this digital revolution, the Highlands and Islands is leading the way."