A recent survey from bOnline has shown that many SMEs are unsure about the availability of altnet in their area, with confusion over the UK’s broadband roll-out strategy.
Highland Broadband will bring fibre access to 5,000 premises in Alness, Easter Ross by the end of the year as phase one of a wider connect project.
The provider will then expand outward to the towns of Evanton and Invergordon. It will also extend northwards to include Ardross as well as several smaller villages along the way.
The provider is a trading name of Lothian Broadband Networks which plans to invest £75m to connect over 70,000 premises in rural communities and small towns across Scotland over the next four years.
CEO Gavin Rodgers said: “We already provides broadband in the region through our subsidiary Highland Wireless so we know first-hand the positive difference this development will make to the communities there.”
Jamie Stone, MP for Caithness, Sutherland and Easter Ross, added: “Improving broadband connectivity in the Highlands at pace is absolutely key to our success as a region, and I look forward to the day that every household and business in my constituency can access superfast speeds. This is an excellent start."