Next generation broadband should be introduced on the Rosneath Peninsula by the end of this year – ahead of schedule.
Homes in Cardross received the service last October and other parts of the area will soon follow, councillors will be told next week.
Using fibre-optic cable, the superfast broadband is expected to deliver download speeds between 40Mpbs and 100 Mbps.
A rollout by BT will bring the service to parts of Helensburgh which are seen as commercially viable, according to a report to Argyll and Bute Council’s policy and resources committee.
But the ‘Rest of Scotland’ programme led by the Scottish Government aims to extend coverage to 92% of premises in the Helensburgh and Lomond area.
The council report says that the rest of Helensburgh, plus the Rhu exchange, were initially scheduled for 2016 but will now be complete by June this year.
The Arrochar, Clynder, Garelochhead and Kilcreggan exchanges are said to be due to for completion by December.
Current broadband services, delivered over copper telephone cables, can achieve speeds as high as 20 Mbps but it is a distance-limited technology – someone who is a long way from the local telephone exchange won’t enjoy the same speeds as someone living much closer.
The length of cable between you and the local exchange directly affects the speeds you will be able to receive.
Fibre-optic cable uses a completely different type of technology. Each cable is made up of fibres as thick as a human hair, which can transmit huge volumes of data over very long distances.
The full report to Thursday’s meeting is here: DIGITAL INFRASTRUCTURE UPDATE
Can’t wait
I won’t hold my breath; the smiling assassin Blair promised this over a decade ago and we’re still waiting.
The fibre service is also distance limited. It’s not a cure-all for properties that are currently far away from their serving cabinet.