SNP MSP Dave Thompson has welcomed news that in March his constituents around Laggan and Strathconnon will be among the first to see their access to broadband improve as part of the Scottish Government's £3 million investment in infrastructure improvement.
The benefit will quickly spread to other constituents around Skye, Lochalsh and Wester Ross. (Tarscavaig and Loch Scavaig - April. See complete timings below.)
Following an announcement in September by John Swinney, Cabinet Secretary for Finance and Sustainable Growth, of the investment of £3 million to improve internet access to rural areas, Mr Thompson wrote to all constituents who had contacted him on this issue and urged them to join his campaign for their telephone exchanges to be included among those covered by the new Scottish Government money.
On Wednesday it was announced that this money will be used by BT to upgrade 71 rural exchanges throughout Scotland next year.
"The telecommunications infrastructure becomes more important the farther you are from major population centres," Mr Thompson explained. "With a reliable high-speed internet connection a business in a remote Highland glen can compete on an equal footing with another based on an industrial estate next to the M8.
"That is why the announcement from John Swinney is so important. With a modern internet connection, jobs can be created and sustained throughout the Highlands.
"These improvements to telephone exchanges all over the Highlands will have a dramatic effect on the reliability and speed of broadband services to thousands of my constituents and will help address one of the major categories of casework that is brought to my office."
Note:
Within Mr Thompson's Highlands and Islands constituency this will include those at Achiltibuie (scheduled to be completed: August 2010), Duntulm (November 2010), Kinlochewe (July 2010), Staffin (November 2010), Uig (2010), Killilan (March 2010), Loch Scavaig (April), North Erradale (March), Scatwell (March), Tarscavaig (April), Birsay (October), Hoy (May), Papa Westray (March), Burravoe (June), Fetlar (June), Gutcher (June), Fair Isle (May), Out Skerries (July), Coll (July), Colonsay (September), Gigha (May), Jura (June), Kilchattan Bay (August), Kilfinan (March), Pennyghael (March), Whitehouse (May), Durness (September), Gillock (July), Lyth (August), Tongue (August), Berriedale (May).
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