Scottish government "must do more" on rural broadband

Services vital to homes and businesses

Scottish parliament urged to do more

The SNP-led Scottish government has been urged to do more to deal with broadband "not spots" in remote areas in the Highlands and Islands.

A week after the UK government announced plans to impose a universal service obligation requiring everyone to be supplied with internet access of at least 2Mbit/s, Scottish Liberal Democrat MSP Liam McArthur said this was "absolutely the right approach" but warned of too many areas with low speeds and poor connections.

"Ministers must recognise the fundamental importance of fast, reliable broadband to individuals but particularly businesses in some of the remotest part of Scotland," he said:

"The picture is still too patchy. More must be done to ensure that every home and business from Shetland to Stranraer has access to broadband."