Rural business and residents across rural areas of Stirling hail the rollout of superfast broadband.
This comes after more than 700 homes and businesses across the rural Stirling area now have access to superfast connectivity due to Stirling Council’s award-winning rural broadband programme.
The milestone was achieved after 50 homes and businesses in and around the Blair Drummond area secured high-speed broadband through the transformational scheme.
To achieve the project the Council worked alongside Keir and Blair Drummond Broadband Group where they used both fibre and fixed wireless technology to help the rollout of the superfast broadband.
Also, the local communities linked up with local broadband firm Briskona, with 35 homes and 16 businesses part of the network which went live back in September.
The new superfast broadband has been praised from both local business and local residents.
One local resident Mary Inglis, who runs Briarlands Farm, a working mixed farm with a range of fun family outdoor and indoor activities, said: “Having an improved broadband service has been invaluable to us as a business and particularly this year, with the introduction of online ticketing.”
“It is vital that we have a reliable connection in order to check our guests in quickly and efficiently on arrival at the farm, and we no longer suffer from the periods of ‘no service’ we did previously. This is never a good thing with a queue of excited children to deal with!”
“As a marketing tool the use of social media is now key, so knowing that we can get our message out quickly is a massive advantage to us.”
Another local resident, Dr Guthrie Blackhurst, a consultant physician who lives in Blair Drummond, said: “Having decent, reliable broadband has turned out to be essential.”
“It’s allowed me to do virtual medical clinics remotely during the pandemic. I would have had to rely on phone calls otherwise which are much less effective.”
Additionally, commenting on the new superfast broadband rollout, Convener of Stirling Council’s Finance and Economy Committee, Cllr Margaret Brisley said: “The ongoing pandemic means this continues to be a hugely challenging time for businesses in our rural areas, making fast and reliable broadband all the more important for them.
“It’s no exaggeration to say this technology can be life changing for rural communities and it’s fantastic that more residents and businesses in the Blair Drummond area are benefiting from superfast connectivity via the Council’s rural broadband programme.”
Additionally, Vice Convener, Cllr Alison Laurie said: “The Keir and Blair Drummond scheme is another excellent example of the Council working in partnership with a rural community to deliver a tailored broadband solution that meets their needs.
“A huge well done to all involved in making this project a reality and we are looking forward to supporting other rural communities in their efforts to access world-class connectivity in 2021.”
The Council’s rural superfast broadband rollout aims to support communities in the development of alternative connectivity solutions and boosting economic growth, while also allowing residents access to vital services.
So far, over 1000 residents and 200 business across 21 rural communities have benefited from the Council’s ambitious digital rural superfast broadband rollout.
Image credit: Stirling Area Access Panel
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