Fibre broadband funding boost for Highlands and Islands

Fibre optic broadband will be rolled out across the Highlands and Islands thanks to a multimillion-pound funding package from the Scottish government.

Alex Neil, the country's Cabinet Secretary for Infrastructure and Capital Investment, said £120 million is set to be spent on delivering next-generation broadband to homes and businesses in some of Scotland's most rural areas for the first time.

Around 99 per cent of properties in the Highlands and Islands already have basic broadband thanks to public investment.

Highlands and Islands Enterprise is currently in discussion with BT on a programme to bring "world-class" internet connectivity to the region, the government explained.

"Everybody in the Highlands and Islands recognises the importance of access to super-fast broadband, not just for the future of our local economies but indeed for the future of our children," Mr Neil commented.

BT is the sole bidder in the process, after three other candidates - Cable and Wireless, Fujitsu and Commendium - opted to pull out.