Plans to hook Angus up with the fastest available internet connections have been approved by councillors.
Angus Council will commit £2 million towards fibre broadband coverage after councillors backed a single-item agenda at the Town and County Buildings, Forfar.
The money will be aimed at providing 93% of the region with high-speed internet during a national programme, empowering a large percentage of rural homes to get online in the 21st century.
Chief executive Richard Stiff told councillors about the work’s potential benefits for remote areas.
He said: “Angus Council is investing £2 million in the Step Change Project with an emphasis on maximising the number of premises that can access fibre broadband.
“The combined investment is expected to take overall fibre coverage in Angus to over 93% of premises from a starting point of less than 70%.
“Nearly half of Angus’ deployment is expected to be delivered within the initial phases of the project, giving many rural homes and businesses an early opportunity to take advantage of high-speed broadband.
“In addition at least 2MBs will be delivered to areas with no basic broadband.”
He reported to the council’s strategic policy committee: “There is a risk that it will not prove possible to supply all premises with the anticipated minimum supply capacity of 2MBs, particularly in the most remote locations.
“Community expectations in relation to digital connectivity will be raised by these various investments but the supply is unlikely to meet all expectations.”
Angus Council plans to contribute two allocations of £1m to the national broadband project between 2014 and 2016.
Its Additional Local Subsidy of £2m will come from an agreed reduction in the General Capital Grant paid to the council, in £1m instalments in financial year 2014-15 and 2015-16.
It is also awaiting a response on an application for extra cash from the European Regional Development Fund, which could see existing architecture used to provide fast internet in remote areas which are unlikely to benefit from this rollout.
Mr Stiff added: “These ambitious projects will connect communities across Angus and will provide a platform for future economic development.
“They will enable businesses to compete on an international stage and have the potential to enhance education, health and social care across the county.”
The update on Angus emerged at the same time as concerns about the lack of broadband across Scotland’s isolated areas.
Rural affairs secretary Richard Lochhead warned MSPs that slow internet speeds were causing some people to desert the countryside.