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Householders and businesses across rural Scotland will benefit from a project to provide improved access to broadband.

Following talks with the Scottish Government to identify rural areas needing improvements, BT has already started work on upgrading 71 telephone exchanges. The first upgrades will be complete from March 2010.

The exchanges - in Argyll, Ayrshire, the Borders, Dumfries and Galloway, Forth Valley, the Highlands and Islands, Lanarkshire, Lothian, Moray, Orkney, Renfrewshire, Shetland, and Tayside - are all operating at or approaching full capacity for broadband provision.

The Scottish Government is continuing to work with BT towards the upgrade of a smaller number of similarly affected exchanges, which would further increase broadband provision in rural Scotland. Ministers are committed to achieving the maximum possible coverage.

Enterprise Minister Jim Mather said:

"I fully recognise the frustration felt in some rural communities where people are unable to obtain a satisfactory broadband service.

"With broadband an increasingly vital tool for businesses and households, we have acted with BT to identify a way forward. Upgrading these telephone exchanges will enable even more people to benefit from a broadband service which people in most areas of Scotland already enjoy.

"Enhancing Scotland's broadband infrastructure in this way will help give rural businesses a competitive advantage at a time when they need it most."

Brendan Dick, Director, BT Scotland, said: "The burgeoning demand for broadband has led to capacity problems at some of our small, rural exchanges and we have been working closely with the Scottish Government to find a viable solution to this issue. Thanks to this new initiative, over 70 rural communities across Scotland will benefit from an increase in broadband availability, something that we all recognise is a critical component of any modern society."

Due to high broadband take-up, a number of telephone exchanges in rural areas of Scotland have not been able to accommodate new broadband users for some time because of capacity constraints. The Scottish Government announced in September that it was working with BT to agree an upgrade programme by looking at areas most in need. Following completion of this work, BT has already started work on the upgrade programme and expects the first upgrades to be operational by March. The exchanges to be upgraded are:

Argyll and the Islands - Coll, Colonsay, Gigha, Jura, Pirnmill, Kilchattan Bay, Kilfinan, Machrie, Pennyghael, Sliddery, Whitehouse

Ayrshire - Craigie, Straiton

Caithness and Sutherland - The Craigs, Durness, Gillock, Lyth, Tongue, Berriedale, Kinbrace, Rosehall, Scourie, Westerdale

Dumfries and Galloway - Bargrennan, Durisdeer, Marrburn

Forth Valley - Inversnaid, Trossachs

Inverness and East Highland - Advie, Glenferness, Laggan, Scatwell

Lanarkshire - Elvanfoot

Lochaber - Ardgour, Glenborrodale

Lothian - Garvald

Moray - Drummuir, Mulben

Orkney - Birsay, Hoy, Papa Westray

Renfrewshire - Loganswell

Scottish Borders - Grantshouse, Longformacus, Abbey St Bathans, Borthwickbrae, Lempitlaw, Stobo

Shetland - Burravoe, Fetlar, Gutcher, Fair Isle, Out Skerries

Skye and Wester Ross - Achiltibuie, Duntulm, Kinlochewe, Staffin, Uig, Killilan, Loch Scavaig, North Erradale, Tarskavaig

Tayside - Strathardle, Amulree, Bridge of Balgie, Bridge of Gaur, Butterstone, Trochry, Tummelbridge, Fern and Menmuir

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