Fibe broadband has been rolled out in Selkirk – with the help of secret knitters The Souter Stormers who rose to fame by yarn-storming the town.
Almost 3,400 homes and businesses in the town are now able to connect thanks to the Digital Scotland Superfast Broadband programme.
And to mark the milestone the knitters yarn-bombed one of the new street cabinets that provide the service.
It was unravelled by the Digital Scotland team as some of the knitters looked on.
The properties in Selkirk join more than 17,500 homes and businesses in the Borders which are now able to access fibre broadband through the Digital Scotland rollout.
The Souter Stormers guerilla group caused a delightful stir when they yarn-bombed Selkirk as part of the YES (Yarrow – Ettrick – Selkirk) arts festival in September.
Kay Ross, spokesman of The Souter Stormers, said: “It was a pleasure that The Souter Stormers could help with the launch of fibre broadband in Selkirk.
“I hope that Digital Scotland appreciate our take on the cabinet launch event and I look forward to hearing about the benefits that it will bring to everyone in the town.”
Councillor Stuart Bell, SBC’s executive member for economic development, said: “We know how important access to high-speed internet technology is to both residents and businesses – which is why Scottish Borders Council chose to invest £8.4 million into the programme’s rollout. Fibre broadband will provide many opportunities for homes and businesses, once they sign up to a service provider.
Seeing this project develop across the Scottish Borders is something which I feel is exciting to witness.”
Sara Budge, programme director for Digital Scotland Superfast Broadband, said: “With homes and businesses in Selkirk being able to connect fibre broadband, residents will see a positive boost in what they can achieve online, once signing up with a service provider.
BT is investing £126million in the Digital Scotland programme, in addition to its commercial rollout of fibre broadband in Scotland.
Brendan Dick, BT Scotland director, said: “Hopefully, the arrival of fibre in Selkirk will be the ‘purl’ in the crown for the town.”
Source: Selkirk Advertiser
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