Too many rural communities are still missing out on the high-speed internet revolution, according to a Perthshire politician.
Murdo Fraser, MSP for Mid Scotland and Fife, has renewed his calls for the Scottish Government to invest in broadband coverage in outlying areas to help safeguard education and the economy.
In particular, Mr Fraser asked that exchanges in Amulree and Trochry, near Dunkeld, be upgraded to full platform ADSL in 2012.
He said: ”We need to focus on upgrading the exchanges in Highland Perthshire that are holding back the communities that rely on them
”The current broadband speeds on offer are preventing local businesses from developing, frustrating family life and holding back schoolchildren from being able to download revision papers to name just a few things.”
He added: ”While we are seeing some parts of the country given the opportunity for even faster broadband services, parts of Perthshire are being left behind.
”For too long we have had a two-tier communication system in Scotland when it comes to high-speed internet and it needs to change.”Broadband ‘more and more important’Mr Fraser has also called on ministers to make Highland Perthshire a priority for investment in broadband.
The Scottish Government was given a £68m share of the £530m Westminster budget set aside for broadband infrastructure development.
However a new report by the Scottish Parliament’s infrastructure and capital investment committee suggests ministers must ensure plans are sufficiently ambitious.
The report welcomed the Scottish Government’s action plan for developing broadband infrastructure, but warned that further steps were necessary if Scotland is to have a digital infrastructure to meet the needs of business and consumers.
It also asked for action to ensure rural areas in Scotland are not left behind on improvements to broadband access.
Committee convener Maureen Watt said: ”The ability to access fast broadband connections is becoming more and more important in all aspects of our lives.
”We received evidence from a wide range of individuals, communities and businesses concerned about unreliable and slow internet connections.
”These issues were shown to have a particularly detrimental effect on small- and medium-sized businesses outside the main urban centres of Scotland.”