This item was published during the term of a previous administration that ended in April 2007
Listen
Rural broadband plugs into £90 million investment
13/12/2004
Two pathfinder projects in the north and south of Scotland are to receive up to £90 million in funding to ensure a network of high-speed internet access for rural schools and libraries.
Education Minister Peter Peacock today performed the formal handover of the two projects to instal broadband connections in the Highlands and Islands, the Borders and Dumfries and Galloway to the local authorities in the areas.
Education Minister Peter Peacock said:
"I am pleased to announce a major investment in broadband services for rural areas today.
"Modern technology is making the world a smaller place and this has real benefits for people living in rural Scotland.
"In our schools, it means pupils and teachers can share ideas, expertise, projects and even lessons with schools throughout Scotland - and beyond.
"That's why we're investing in broadband to ensure our remote rural schools can enjoy high-speed internet access and downloading, allowing them to exploit fully the potential of IT."
Transport Minister Nicol Stephen said:
"The Pathfinder projects will contribute greatly to enhancing the use of IT and will help ensure schools in rural areas have the same opportunities as urban ones.
"Broadband will prove to be a valuable teaching resource, it will offer pupils and the public in remote areas a chance to research and learn on a global platform.
"Teachers and pupils will gain huge benefits from high speed access to the internet and quicker downloading of educational materials."
The split of funding between the Highlands and Islands and the Borders will be roughly 70:30 but this will depend on the procurement outcomes. It will be distributed by the Executive to councils as and when it is required over a period of nine years.
The Executive's broadband strategy recognises that remote rural areas are unlikely to meet the demand for high capacity that is required for commercial broadband companies to provide a service.
Through the use of public sector demand aggregation, financial support and procurement, these Pathfinder projects seek to encourage suppliers to invest in rural areas to provide broadband.
A key priority of the Pathfinder projects is to ensure that all schools are connected at a minimum speed of 4Mbps.