RESIDENTS in Drongan and Dalrymple are to receive fibre broadband in the latest phase of a £410 million programme to link up Scottish communities.

It’s hoped residents will be able to surf the net at superspeed by Spring 2015.

As well as Drongan and Dalrymple, Joppa in South Ayrshire will also be part of the rollout.

Local people will have access to fibre services at speeds of up to 80Mbps, provided by the engineering rollout being delivered on the ground by BT’s local network business, Openreach.

Commenting on the announcement Mr Ingram said: “This latest announcement will undoubtedly be very much welcomed in the area and marks another important milestone for the Digital Scotland Superfast Broadband partnership.

“More businesses and homes will be able to capitalise on the benefits of Superfast Broadband.

“This will have a huge economic and social impact on local communities. Commercially, educationally and socially, this will allow local people to carry out tasks online more quickly and efficiently.

He added: “The scale of the challenge of delivering fibre broadband both locally and nationally in Scotland shouldn’t be underestimated but engineers are working hard and making good progress.

“It’s a fundamental part of the Scottish Government’s aim to deliver world class connectivity by 2020, enabling people across Scotland to connect any time, any place, anywhere, using any device.” The Chronicle reported back in May how Mauchline and New Cumnock were announced as two towns to receive the rollout. Muirkirk was announced to be part of the programme in July this year.