Government promises broadband windfall for Scots

How can giving a few Scottish farmers broadband help the UK become competitive? Surely that money should be spent in England where it will help more people make more money. It doesn't make any sense to spend all that money in Scotland when England would make far more use of it. And how much of the credit will the SNP take for this? And how much is this costing the English?

By onegin101 on 6 Nov 2009

It's not all being spent in Scotland - just some to ensure the more remote areas will have it available. There is a large tourist industry going on as well as a few farms

By greemble on 6 Nov 2009

Rural Broadband

onegin101: Get a grip. Typical south of the gap viewpoint. Have just got back from the Isle of Tiree where I experienced at first hand the difficulties some tourist businesses have with their internet connection. Most of them run by English people who have moved for a better life. And I for one don't grudge them it. The government has for too long neglected business outside the cities. Great to see a push in this area. Maybe now more of us will work from more scenic and "good for the soul" surroundings. The idea that you HAVE to work in a city to make money is old hat anyway.

By CraigieDD on 9 Nov 2009

Scottish Developers

None of the 5 professional software developers I know personally, who live within the area served by our very old, very poor Scottish rural exchange were too impressed with the xenophobic nonsense posted by onegin101. Guess what, onegin, none of us still daub ourselves in blue paint and run down hill sides waving swords. We've actually caught up with the 21st Century.
Well, except for the crap broadband service, that is.

By XTabVBCity on 9 Nov 2009

Xenophobic? Are you taking the piss? You make it sound like I’m an English nationalist; nothing could be further from the truth. It's just a case of numbers. Do you all think the broadband down south is any good? You're wrong, it's terrible and the fact is that more people are making more money for the economy in the south. It stands to reason then that the south should be the priority. I'm all for universally good broadband across the entire country but a start needs to be made somewhere and it makes absolute sense that the south gets the investment it needs to benefit the entire United Kingdom.

Fixing it up for rural Scotland simply can't be at or near the top of the list for now. Fix up the major cities first, then the larger towns and then properly equip the countryside. The cities should be the first beneficiaries of broadband redevelopment in Scotland, Wales, Northern Ireland and England.

To suggest that opinion is xenophobic is complete nonsense and horrendously offensive! I am mixed British and immensely proud of my heritage. I wouldn't suggest that my Scottish cousins paint their faces blue and run down hillsides; I also wouldn't suggest that rural areas of England should necessarily come before rural areas of Scotland, Wales or Northern Ireland.

As for 'having to work in a City to make money', I don't live in or near a city and the bills get paid. I would love to be able to afford to live in the countryside proper but that's a long way off yet. I live in an average town and wouldn't expect any immediate benefit from Broadband redevelopment; I would however expect to see faster, more reliable internet in my average town before the summit of Ben Nevis gets 100Mb/sec.

Outrageous, offensive and incorrect accusations of xenophobia hold absolutely no weight, smearing me as some nationalist nut is ignorant in the extreme!

By onegin101 on 10 Nov 2009

Xenophobic? Are you taking the piss? You make it sound like I’m an English nationalist; nothing could be further from the truth. It's just a case of numbers. Do you all think the broadband down south is any good? You're wrong, it's terrible and the fact is that more people are making more money for the economy in the south. It stands to reason then that the south should be the priority. I'm all for universally good broadband across the entire country but a start needs to be made somewhere and it makes absolute sense that the south gets the investment it needs to benefit the entire United Kingdom.

Fixing it up for rural Scotland simply can't be at or near the top of the list for now. Fix up the major cities first, then the larger towns and then properly equip the countryside. The cities should be the first beneficiaries of broadband redevelopment in Scotland, Wales, Northern Ireland and England.

To suggest that opinion is xenophobic is complete nonsense and horrendously offensive! I am mixed British and immensely proud of my heritage. I wouldn't suggest that my Scottish cousins paint their faces blue and run down hillsides; I also wouldn't suggest that rural areas of England should necessarily come before rural areas of Scotland, Wales or Northern Ireland.

As for 'having to work in a City to make money', I don't live in or near a city and the bills get paid. I would love to be able to afford to live in the countryside proper but that's a long way off yet. I live in an average town and wouldn't expect any immediate benefit from Broadband redevelopment; I would however expect to see faster, more reliable internet in my average town before the summit of Ben Nevis gets 100Mb/sec.

Outrageous, offensive and incorrect accusations of xenophobia hold absolutely no weight, smearing me as some nationalist nut is ignorant in the extreme!

By onegin101 on 10 Nov 2009