Peebles residents gain fibre broadband access

Peebles has become the latest Scottish community to benefit from BT's nationwide fibre optic broadband rollout.

During spring 2014, the telecoms giant is aiming to bring the technology to two-thirds of UK homes and businesses, representing about 19 million properties.

As part of this process, BT has deployed super-fast broadband to the first premises in Peebles, with more than 4,200 set to be connected over the coming weeks.

The Peebles deployment comes after the company extended fibre broadband coverage to the fellow Scottish Borders communities of Galashiels and Innerleithen.

By the end of next year, more than 22,800 properties across the Borders are set to be upgraded following further rollouts in Hawick and Kelso.

Brendan Dick, director of BT Scotland, said: "The arrival of fibre in Peebles can really help local firms in these economically challenging times, opening up new ways of working and speeding up vital operations."

MP for Dumfriesshire, Clydesdale and Tweeddale David Mundell added high-speed digital connectivity will be a "defining factor" in the area's long-term growth.