MSP calls for Shetland fibre optic broadband

The MSP for Shetland has attended a meeting with Community Broadband Scotland (CBS) in an effort to bring fibre optic broadband access to the islands.

Tavish Scott travelled to Edinburgh to meet with the organisation's bosses and discuss how the next-generation service would help "to move the whole of Shetland forward".

According to the Shetland Times, CBS has £5 million that will be used to try to bring a high-speed connection to areas that currently operate 2Mbps or less.

Mr Scott spoke of his frustration at the lack of progress with rollouts in rural areas, saying: "There is much talk of connecting island communities using broadband, but so far no detail."

He went on to say that some rural spots are treated as a "nuisance" by CBS, which favours more urbanised areas with a higher population density.

If Shetland receives the upgrade the MSP is rallying for, fibre optic broadband access will extend beyond areas such as Vidlin, Fetlar and West Burrafirth, which have already been given access to the service.