When broadband will be available to all communities in the Borders.

Our broadband strategy for Scotlandhas accelerated the roll-out of affordable broadband across Scotland and we reachedthe coverage target of 70% of households announced in December 2002 ahead of timeand below budget. A new coverage target for the whole of Scotland, whichwill include communities in the Borders, is being considered and we shall be announcingour plans shortly.
Scottish Borders Rural Broadband,a project we supported under the UK Broadband Fund, has brought an innovative wirelessbroadband service to seven selected communities in the Borders, ahead of plannedcommercial provision. In total nine Borders locations will benefit from this trialof broadband via wireless technology.