In a groundbreaking move towards enhanced digital connectivity, Openreach, in collaboration with the Scottish Government’s £600 million Reaching 100% programme, has successfully upgraded approximately 4,400 households and businesses in the Scottish Borders. This strategic initiative is part of the broader R100 rollout, propelling full fibre technology into 40,000 of Scotland’s most challenging-to-connect properties.
Recent upgrades in Lauder, Morebattle, Smailholm, and Westruther showcase the program’s impact, with ongoing groundwork in Denholm, Earlston, and Whitsome poised for the next wave of ultra-fast and reliable connection upgrades.
Full fibre broadband, exceeding speeds over 30 times faster than the Scottish Government’s initial commitment for superfast services, signifies a monumental leap in technological capability for residents in the Scottish Borders. Individuals can verify the rollout status for their addresses and register for updates at www.openreach.co.uk/ultrafastfullfibre. Registrations play a pivotal role in Openreach’s strategic planning, ensuring an efficient response to community demand. Once full fibre is available, residents can seamlessly arrange service upgrades through their chosen providers.
Scottish Government Innovation Minister Richard Lochhead underscored the significance of full fibre upgrades for homes and businesses, citing locations like Stichill and Yetholm. Lochhead emphasized that the R100 contracts are instrumental in delivering future-proofed digital infrastructure, fostering economic growth and enriching the economic prospects of communities across Scotland.
Full fibre broadband not only delivers more reliable and resilient connections but also future-proofs against evolving data demands across multiple devices. Its benefits extend to diverse online activities at home, including data-intensive streaming of movies, sports, TV, and online gaming. For businesses, an ultra-reliable connection contributes to productivity, efficiency, and security, supporting day-to-day tasks such as video calls, cloud applications, online banking, and customer experiences.
Robert Thorburn, Openreach Partnership Director for Scotland, highlighted the R100 program’s commitment to bringing fast and reliable broadband to the most challenging locations in Scotland. Acknowledging the complexity of the build, Thorburn underscored collaborative efforts with the Scottish Borders Council and build partners to minimize disruption to residents, emphasizing the magnitude of this civil undertaking.
