RESIDENTS in rural parts of the Borders are being reminded that they may be able to access satellite broadband at reduced cost as part of an ongoing pilot project, being run by Avanti.

Funded through Scottish Government’s Digital Scotland Superfast Broadband Programme (DSSB), the scheme is aimed at providing high-speed internet access to properties which will be unable to receive fibre broadband.

Scottish Borders Council has contributed £8.4million to the DSSB Programme to help deliver better broadband to as wide a range of premises as possible.

While the majority of this is aimed at significantly improving fibre broadband coverage, the Council’s agreement with the Scottish Government includes a commitment to providing solutions where fibre broadband is not viable and where download speeds are below 2Mbps.

Councillor Stuart Bell, SBC’s executive member for economic development, said: “It will only be possible to deliver better broadband to those premises which are hardest to reach through the use of alternative technologies, including satellite broadband.

“I am delighted that the Scottish Borders is one of only three areas of Scotland to be part of this pilot project, which is offering a limited number of subsidised satellite broadband installations and packages to some rural households.

“Faster broadband will open up new opportunities for education, leisure, business and delivering the services our local people need, and I would encourage people to investigate if they could benefit from this pilot project.” Letters and information were sent to all eligible households earlier in the summer.

For more information and to check your eligibility log on to the following website: www.better-broadband.co.uk/scotborders