NEWS RELEASE For Immediate Use 29 September 2009 RURAL TAYSIDE MUST BE FIRST FOR BROADBAND UPGRADE The Scottish Government and BT recently announced that broadband exchanges in rural areas of Scotland are to be upgraded, providing increased access to broadband, and MSP Murdo Fraser wants Rural Tayside to be at the top of the list for the first upgrades. Small BT telephone exchanges serving remote and rural areas in Scotland will benefit from a £3million upgrade to increase access to broadband. It is estimated that around 50 sites will be chosen over the coming weeks for improvement. Murdo believes that parts of the Angus Glens and Highland Perthshire should be among the first to benefit from the upgrades. There are exchanges in Perthshire that are already at full capacity, such as Kirkmichael as the exchange is over loaded and requires upgrading. Commenting, Murdo said: “It is welcome news that BT will roll out upgrades broadband exchange upgrades for remote and rural areas of Scotland. The rural parts of Tayside must benefit from this announcement as there are a number of exchanges in Angus and Perthshire that require upgrading to increase capacity. “I have had constituents across Angus and Perthshire raise with me problems accessing broadband, due to their distance from telephone exchanges or lack of capacity. It is vital that local businesses and households can access this technology otherwise they will be held back, for example tourism businesses not being able to take online bookings. “It is not right that the majority of Scotland enjoys high levels of broadband availability and our cities are seeing even faster and faster services while parts of Tayside are being left completely behind and unable to obtain a service. “I have been campaigning for parts of Tayside to see upgrades to broadband availability for a number of years and it is essential that our area is among the first to see this upgrade. We must see more residents and businesses in Angus and Perthshire benefit from a broadband service which people in most areas of Scotland already take for granted.” ENDS   back to top of page