BORDERS broadband firm GoFibre formed part of an exhibition on internet connectivity across rural Scotland at the Scottish Parliament last week.

Local MSP Rachael Hamilton said it was fantastic to host the local business in Holyrood, adding that their work has been absolutely vital in keeping rural Scotland connected, particularly through the pandemic.

Founded in Duns in 2017, GoFibre was created to help rural communities in the Borders get access to faster broadband. Since then, it has expanded to operate across Scotland with over 200 employees.

READ MORE: Cabinet of 10 will be supported by 18 Junior Ministers

GoFibre has recently finished expanding into Kelso and plans to make its super-fast broadband available to over 1,400 homes through-out Melrose area in the next year.

The Parliamentary Exhibition saw GoFibre engage with dozens of MSPs across parties, helping them understand the work they do to deliver improvements to Scotland’s digital infrastructure in rural areas.

Ms Hamilton MSP said: “I was pleased to host GoFibre’s exhibition in Parliament last week. Their hard work in communities in the Borders and across Scotland has seen them grow from strength to strength. It was fantastic to see that on display.

READ MORE: Tips on how to avoid becoming a victim of relay theft

“There is a lot of work to do to improve access to faster broadband in rural areas. GoFibre have demonstrated how this can be addressed.

“However, we must now see the Scottish Government step up their efforts to support the development of our digital infrastructure. Their R100 scheme has been hampered by dither and delay, which makes it difficult for businesses like GoFibre to deliver the services they strive for.

“I am grateful to GoFibre for their engagement in Parliament, and hope that my MSP colleagues found the exhibit useful in understanding the work they do to bring better broadband to rural communities.”  

READ MORE: Latest round of Covid-19 booster vaccines start this week

CEO of GoFibre, Neil Conaghan said: “We’re a proud Borders-born business who've expanded to provide digital infrastructure to help residents and businesses across Scotland and the north of England.

“A gigabit-capable fibre broadband connection is now vital for our modern lives – working and studying, gaming, socialising and powering almost everything we need for our families. Our mission at GoFibre is to make sure rural areas of Scotland are not left behind in this digital transformation.

“We're very grateful to Rachael Hamilton for hosting us in Parliament last week, allowing us to share our important work with Parliamentarians from across the country.”