Digital bus stops off in the Spittal
Spittal Primary pupils got a chance to sample life in the fast lane last week.
The Digital Scotland Fibre Showcase paid the school a visit to explain about super fast broadband.
More than 5,000 premises, households and businesses in Rutherglen can now access highspeed fibre services thanks to the Digital Scotland Superfast Broadband programme.
During the visit, pupils were able to climb aboard the Digital Scotland Fibre Showcase, a unique vehicle which features equipment used in the roll-out of fibre broadband.
Locals need to sign up for the new services with an internet service provider as upgrades are not automatic.
The premises join more than 60,000 residents in Glasgow – and more than 640,000 across Scotland – that are now able to access fibre broadband through the £ 410 million Digital Scotland rollout.
Cambuslang and Croftfoot also now have new or additional coverage thanks to the programme.
More local coverage will follow as engineers from Openreach, BT’s local network business, continue work on the ground.
Sara Budge, programme director for Digital Scotland Superfast Broadband, said: “It’s great news that many residents and businesses in and around Spittal are now able to receive fibre broadband thanks to the programme, with more local coverage to follow.
“I also hope the children enjoyed visiting our Digital Scotland Fibre Showcase and found it insightful in finding out what fibre broadband can provide and how it’s delivered.”
Liz Mallinson, BT Scotland’s Fibre Broadband director, added: “Thousands of people now have the opportunity to access their best ever broadband speeds when they sign up with a service provider.
“There’s lots of competition out there and people may find they could be surfing at much higher speeds at a similar cost to their current service.
“We’d like to thank the school for having us – it’s great local pupils were able to get an insight into how highspeed technology powers the internet and learn about a very positive side to a career in engineering.”
Local people can check the interactive map on the Digital Scotland website at http:// www. scotlandsuperfast.com/where-when to find out if they can get the service.
Further information is also available on Twitter @ScotSuperfast or Facebook at www.facebook.com/ scotlandsuperfast