Only residents in Shetland, Orkney and the Highlands have fewer fibre broadband connections than Perth and Kinross following figures released in a parliamentary question answer to Murdo Fraser MSP.
The Scottish Government’s Digital Superfast Broadband Programme aims to make fibre-based broadband available to 95% of all premises by 2017 however only 52% are connected in Perth and Kinross so far.
As a result of slow broadband speeds residents in Perth and Kinross are ranked 31st out of the UK’s 185 local authorities when it comes to downloading data.
Superfast broadband is measured by attaining download speeds of between 20 and 30 MB p/s.
Commenting Murdo Fraser MSP said:
“With only 52% of premises in Perth and Kinross connected to superfast broadband the Scottish Government have a big job on its hands to meet the 95% target by 2017, and unless real strides are made I struggle to see how this will be achieved.
“It is disappointing to learn that only Scotland’s islands and remote highland communities have a poorer connection to the superfast broadband grid than those in Perth and Kinross.
“Poor broadband connections and slow internet speeds are stunting the growth of businesses across the region and causing serious frustration for people at home trying to watch Netflix or BBC iPlayer. With access to the internet central to almost every aspect of daily life, including using vital public services, it is high time that better digital infrastructure was delivered in Perth and Kinross and I would call on the Scottish Government to quicken the pace of its current initiatives.”