Superfast broadband comes to Falkland
FIFERS are getting the chance to find out more about superfast broadband – and how it can benefit their lives – at a special event in Falkland Library.
Residents and businesses in Falkland will be amongst the first in Fife to be able to connect to fibre broadband thanks to the roll-out of the £410 million Digital Scotland Superfast Broadband programme.
The event is being held on 15th July from 11.30-3 pm in Falkland Library.
Fife Council and the Digital Scotland Superfast Broadband partnership are working together to get thousands of homes and businesses in Fife upgraded to superfast broadband, with new locations due to be announced imminently.
The technology is being deployed on the ground by BT engineers. BT is investing £126m in the Digital Scotland programme, in addition to its commercial roll-out of fibre broadband.
The new infrastructure will mean that multiple users in a home or business will be able to access the internet and download and share large files at the same time and more quickly than ever before. Faster broadband can also be used to access many council services, such as paying council tax or ordering special uplifts.
In total, more than three quarters of a million homes and business premises are expected to benefit from the Digital Scotland Superfast Broadband initiative. Funding partners include the Scottish Government, Highlands and Islands Enterprise, the UK Government through Broadband Delivery UK (BDUK), local authorities and the European Development Fund, as well as BT.
Fife Council is investing £2.8M in the Digital Scotland Superfast Broadband project.
Depute Council Leader Lesley Laird, Executive spokesperson for Economy and Planning, said: “It is great news that another community in the Kingdom will be able to receive superfast broadband. We hope anyone who is interested will come along to the drop-in event on 15th July and find out more.”
Digital Scotland representatives, including Openreach engineers, will be on hand at the event to answer technical questions. Digital Fife volunteers will also be there to offer guidance to anyone who needs a little support in getting online.
Alongside the commercial roll-out of superfast broadband, the Digital Scotland programme will see around 95 per cent of premises in Scotland covered by fibre broadband infrastructure by 2017/18. Locations will be announced quarterly over the life of the projects as the fibre network rolls out.
Many parts of North East Fife are being upgraded, with Falkland set to be one of the first and nearby Freuchie set to follow in late summer.
Councillor Laird added: “We’re hoping individuals and the local business community will make the most of the benefits fast access can bring. Many smaller businesses and sole traders rely on the internet to help establish and build their business so it’s vitally important they’re given the tools they need to do their job.
“Local residents can also use improved broadband to use public services online such as those on www.fifedirect.org.uk From reporting potholes or street lighting faults to helping the environment by switching to paperless billing for their council tax, there’s a range of ways getting online quicker can help.”
BT Scotland director Brendan Dick also welcomed the news that fibre broadband is now available in Falkland. He said: “You can have the best infrastructure in the world, but people need to learn to make it work in the best way for them. This event in Falkland is a great way to help ensure that local people have the confidence and skills they need to get online and can reap the benefits of the digital age.
Anyone interested in the roll-out of superfast broadband can keep up to date and get more detail at www.digitalscotland.org. More information on getting started online can be found atwww.digitalfife.com
