Midlothian has ninth slowest broadband speeds, report finds
Midlothian has the ninth slowest broadband speeds in the country according to a report from Audit Scotland. The report found that the average broadband speed is below 20Mbps and as a result means that the region is placed 23rd out of 32 regions.
The report also states that eight per cent of people living and working in Midlothian cannot get speeds of more than 10Mbps. The report comes after Digital Scotland Superfast Broadband released a report stating that the region of Midlothian had now been connected and can access superfast broadband.
According to the Digital Scotland project, 2,800 fibre cabinets were constructed and built, and over 7,500km of cable was laid. This ensures that Midlothian residents get access to fast and reliable broadband connections of up to 80Mbps. Digital Scotland has further ambitions, to deliver this superfast broadband to 95 per cent of the country by the end of March 2018. Combined with commercial projects, this is set to achieve its target ahead of the Scottish parliament’s goal of 2020.
The Audit Scotland report has brought much criticism for the slow progress of superfast broadband. Bonnyrigg councillor Ian Baxter of the Greens, said: “That programme has slipped badly behind. The Scottish Government has ignored Midlothian to concentrate on more rural parts of Scotland.
“For one of the fastest growing parts of Scotland to have amongst the slowest internet speeds must surely hit Midlothian’s economic prospects.”
Lothian List MSP, Rachael Hamilton, added criticism, particularly over the need for businesses to get connected to superfast broadband. She said: “Just like running water, superfast broadband has become a necessity in everyday life – essential to our business community to help boost productivity, help innovation and encourage investment.”
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(Image: Kainet)
