LANGHOLM is set to have superfast broadband by the end of this year.

More than 3,300 more homes and businesses in Dumfries and Galloway are set to benefit from the latest work carried out as part of the £410 million Digital Scotland programme.

This follows news that a new broadband box is set to be installed on Market Place, near the town's branch of Dalston Pharmacy.

The Digital Scotland project, which started last year, has now brought the service to 394,000 premises. Across the UK there are now more than three million UK homes and businesses.

Scottish Government, Deputy First Minister, John Swinney, said: “It is fantastic news that a further 73,000 homes and businesses will be able to receive fibre broadband thanks to the Digital Scotland Superfast Broadband programme. Every day we are continuing to build on our digital infrastructure –supporting the Scottish Government’s commitment to deliver first-rate connectivity in Scotland by 2020, ensuring we are a world class digital nation. 

“By reaching out to those communities who would not have been covered through by the commercial market," he added, "we are ensuring that the connections which are made will bring many benefits to the Scottish people both at home and in business.” 

Digital Economy Minister Ed Vaizey said: "Our nationwide rollout of superfast broadband has now reached more than 3 million homes and businesses in the UK, with more than 394,000 in Scotland alone now able to connect to the new fibre network. The UK Government is investing £120m to roll out superfast broadband in Scotland and I'm delighted at the tremendous progress being made which will see around 95 per cent of Scotland able to access superfast speeds by March 2018." 

The new locations announcement follows news last week that almost £18 million will be made available in Scotland to take the rollout of fibre broadband further. 

Brendan Dick, director of BT Scotland, said: “We’re making good headway with the Digital Scotland rollout, passing 7,000 more premises a week. “Across the UK, 23 million premises are now covered by BT’s open access network, with three million of those enabled under the BDUK programme."

The interactive map on the Digital Scotland website, www.digitalscotland.org/whereandwhen, gives information on service availability.