Thurso Welcomes Further Broadband Initiative

12.00.00am BST (GMT +0100) Tue 8th Aug 2006

Local MP John Thurso has been told that the Scottish Executive is actively exploring the possibility of further initiatives to broadband enable those communities which are not currently able to access a terrestrial broadband service due to present technology which normally limits delivery to a maximum of 8-9km from the local exchange.

John Thurso said:

"This is a most welcome further development on the part of the Scottish Executive. The decision which Ministers took in 2004 to provide public funding to broadband enable those exchanges which hitherto had not been considered financially viable has provided a tremendous boost not only to very many small businesses operating in rural areas but also to community organisations.

"However, in recent months it has come to my attention that there are a good number of very enterprising concerns springing up in some of our more remote areas which are not able to access a terrestrial broadband service due to their distance from the local exchange.

"It is very encouraging that the Executive has recognised this problem and is exploring ways and means (be it through improved terrestrial technology or satellite connections) to overcome it."