New figures show a huge boost to connectivity in South Lanarkshire thanks to Scottish Government investment in broadband.

97.2% of properties now receive fibre broadband, compared to 81.5% had improvements been left to commercial deployment.

The figures, published in response to a parliamentary question, provide a local authority comparison of the current percentage of premises connected to fibre broadband – compared to the progress made by 2015 if the roll-out had been left to free market.

Commenting, SNP MSP Christina McKelvie for Hamilton, Larkhall and Stonehouse said:

“These new figures show that South Lanarkshire has benefitted from SNP Scottish Government investment in broadband, with 97.2% of homes switched on as opposed to only 81.5% if improvements had been left to the free market.

“More than 95% of Scotland’s homes and businesses are now able to connect to fibre broadband – and the SNP Government is setting its sights even higher pledging to deliver access speeds of at least 30Mbps to 100% of premises in Scotland by the end of 2021.

“Meanwhile, the Tory Government appears content to leave England in the slow lane with an aim to deliver access speeds of only 10Mbps.”