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Scotland unveils faster broadband plans

By Nadine Arendse
Johannesburg, 02 Feb 2012

Scotland unveils faster broadband plans

Broadband Internet could become five times faster in Scotland by 2015, according to a new plan to improve the country's digital infrastructure, BBC reports.

Consumer Focus Scotland said the target could be reached if commitments in the Scottish government's blueprint for digital services were met.

Key parts of the project will include an infrastructure investment plan, as well as a series of initiatives to support local projects and develop ideas on how to improve broadband speed in Scotland, Scotsman.com says.

Annie McGovern, digital expert at Consumer Focus Scotland, said: “Consumers in Scotland want to be able to keep pace with all the new fantastic technology developments the 21st century will offer, UKPA notes. Having the right infrastructure is absolutely critical to doing this.

Faster broadband speeds could benefit businesses and rural communities in particular. Infrastructure secretary Alex Neil said faster broadband is "vitally important, both for the economy and for people's everyday lives".

Neil said the plan sets out how ministers would work with the private sector, although he said public funding would be "vital" for improving services to hard-to-reach areas.

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