BT rolls out fibre broadband to Edinburgh Waverley

Fibre optic broadband has gone live at Edinburgh's Waverley exchange, BT has announced.

The first homes and businesses in the exchange area can now sign up for super-fast broadband, with coverage set to be extended to more than 9,200 local properties in the coming weeks.

Once the work is finished, the number of premises in the Scottish capital with access to fibre broadband from BT will reach around 57,500. By next year, this total will climb to over 141,000.

Mark Lazarowicz, MP for Edinburgh North and Leith, welcomed the news that next-generation broadband connectivity is spreading across Edinburgh city centre.

"High-speed digital connectivity is essential if our businesses are to compete effectively, and protect and create jobs," he said.

"This latest boost will also help residents to realise the full power and potential of the internet."

Last month, BT announced Edinburgh Waverley will be one of the exchanges involved in trials of FTTP (fibre-to-the-premises) on Demand technology.

Parts of High Wycombe, south Bristol and St Agnes in Cornwall will be the first locations to take part in the pilot scheme.