– Scottish Parliament written question – answered at on 3 December 2008.
Jim Hume
Liberal Democrat
Question S3W-18216
To ask the Scottish Executive how many rural or remote households in the Scottish Borders are unable to receive broadband.
Jim Mather
Scottish National Party
Question S3W-18217
This information is not held centrally.
Jim Hume (South of Scotland) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive what action it will take to ensure that residents in rural or remote communities in the Scottish Borders are able to receive broadband.
Jim Mather
Scottish National Party
As a result of direct Intervention by the Scottish Government, broadband availability in Scotland is already over 99%. Our current Broadband Reach Project, for which a contract worth £3.3 million was awarded to Avanti Communications in June 2008, furthers our commitment and aims to address 100% of known demand.
Avanti are using a mix of technologies, including satellite and wireless, to deliver an affordable, basic (512Kbps) broadband service, appropriate to the location and density of those eligible households and business that have made themselves known to the Scottish Government.
Around 4,000 premises, including a number from the Scottish Borders, are included in this project. Rollout commenced in July 2008 and completion is expected by May 2009.
Yes1 person thinks so
No2 people think not
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An intervention is when the MP making a speech is interrupted by another MP and asked to 'give way' to allow the other MP to intervene on the speech to ask a question or comment on what has just been said.
