Vaizey welcomes Highlands and Islands fibre broadband deal

Communications Minister Ed Vaizey has welcomed the launch of a £146 million project to roll out fibre optic broadband across Scotland's Highlands and Islands, declaring that the scheme will deliver a major boost for local economies.

A partnership between Highlands and Islands Enterprise and BT aims to bring super-fast speeds to around 84 per cent of homes and businesses across the region by the end of 2016.

Announced yesterday (March 26th 2013), the project has been described by BT as one of the most complex and challenging broadband rollouts the UK has ever seen.

Mr Vaizey, who explained that the deployment will be particularly tricky because of the geography of the Highlands and Islands, expressed his delight that better access and faster speeds are now one step closer for communities throughout the region.

"We do more business online than any other European country and this will be a tremendous boost for the local Highland and Islands economies," he added.