Local MP David Mundell has welcomed news that Elvanfoot, Leadhills, Crawfordjohn, Crawford, Abington, Roberton, Wiston and Lamington are set for 100Mbps fibreoptic broadband after it was announced that the Clydesdale communities are to be included in the Community Broadband Scotland Project.
The Scottish Government led project aims to encourage and support the development of successful and sustainable community broadband projects to deliver Next Generation Broadband (NGB) through the use of innovative technologies and business models.
Mr Mundell, who has been campaigning with local community groups for improved broadband services, said: "This announcement is a direct result of the persistence and determination of local campaigners to get the same quality of broadband services as other places.
“After representations to BT, it became clear then that there would have to be Scottish Government investment if everybody in these rural Clydesdale communities was going to be able to access high speed broadband.
“And that's why this announcement is so important and I hope that it will lead to the arrival soon of the broadband service local people want and need. Given its importance in modern life, it is not acceptable for rural communities to be excluded from the rollout of this technology and I will continue to campaign for improvements to services throughout Clydesdale," added Mr Mundell.