BT fibre broadband goes live in Arbroath and Dundee Baxter

Nearly 18,000 homes and businesses in Arbroath and Dundee will now be able to benefit from new super-fast fibre broadband connections.

As part of a £2.5 billion project by telecommunications company BT to provide high-speed internet connectivity, around 11,100 households in Arbroath and 6,600 in Dundee's Baxter exchange will be capable of accessing the new service in the coming weeks.

One of the main aims of the BT investment is to ensure that high-speed access is available to communities that may be located beyond the company's commercial footprint.

Brendan Dick, BT Scotland director, explained that the fibre broadband service will play an important role in boosting the economic prospects of Arbroath and Dundee.

"Research suggests that within 15 years fibre broadband could bolster the economy of a typical town by £143 million and create 225 new jobs, 140 new start-up businesses and 1,000 more home-workers," said Mr Dick.

At present, BT offers fibre broadband to around 13 million homes and businesses across the UK and is expected to expand this coverage to 19 million premises by the spring of next year.