According to a Skylogic report into “Rural Digital Exclusion” Powmill, Cleish and Scotlandwell have been named in the top 5 of Scottish internet ‘notspots’ by level of deprivation.
A notspot is an area that suffers from either a complete lack of internet service, or a service that is slower than 2Mbps and is not of benefit.
Rural areas still suffer from far slower internet speeds than urban regions, with research showing a strong link between lower economic output and higher deprivation for those areas with limited internet access.
Commenting Liz Smith MSP said;
“Lack of adequate internet access is one of my most regular constituent complaints. The Scottish Government pledged in their ‘Digital Ambition 2015’ strategy that all Scottish households would have access to adequate broadband. If they are to achieve this aim, progress in digitalising rural areas must be stepped up.
“With the correct digital infrastructure, rural residents will have access to more opportunities and a better standard of living.
“In today’s digital world, residents in Kinross are being left behind and unless the Scottish Government act the divide between the ‘haves and have not’s’ of internet access will only deepen.”