BT fibre broadband set to surpass one million Scottish properties

BT's Scottish fibre optic broadband rollout will hit a major milestone by the end of next year, reaching more than one million homes and businesses.

The telecoms giant has announced it is set to deploy super-fast broadband to another 147,000 properties in Scotland, many of which will be located in smaller towns.

Alva, Burntisland, Dingwall, Dunoon, Fort William, Kelso and Lesmahagow are among the areas to be upgraded, with the work due to be carried out in 2013.

More than 368,000 Scottish premises already have access to fibre optic broadband and BT is keen to boost its coverage further by partnering with the public sector.

In addition to this news, BT revealed earlier this month that it will invest £8 million in a new fibre link running from Inverness to Orkney and Shetland.

Deputy First Minister Nicola Sturgeon said: "It is essential that households and businesses everywhere in Scotland have access to high-speed connectivity and fibre broadband will play a key role in enhancing our digital offering."