Ultrafast broadband to be piloted

Thousands of people will have access to broadband speeds more than ten times the UK average as a pilot for an ultrafast network is switched on.

Around 16,900 households and businesses in parts of Sighthill, Gorgie, Corstorphine, Murrayfield, Fountainbridge, Craiglockhart, the Meadows and Morningside in Edinburgh will benefit.

Linn and Rutherglen in Glasgow will also have access to the new service, known as G.fast, which provides download speeds of up to 330Mbps - more than ten times the UK average. The faster speeds mean a two-hour HD film can be downloaded in 90 seconds and a nine-hour audio book in three seconds.

People living in the pilot areas who want to try the service should contact their internet provider to see if they qualify.