Don’t worry Scotland we haven’t forgotten you – Virgin Media

Virgin Media has announced it will expand its Project Lightning network expansion to include an additional 360,000 homes and businesses in Scotland.

Project Lightning is a £3 billion commitment to connect 4 million additional premises to its UK fibre and coaxial network. While previous announcements from Virgin Media focused primarily around England, it would appear the aroma of haggis and deep-fried mars bars, fantasies of knobbly knees in kilts and constant demands for freedom were too much to keep the team from Scotland.

“We are delighted to be expanding our network to bring better broadband, faster connectivity and top-notch TV to more premises across Scotland,” said Martin McFadyen, Regional Director for Scotland at Virgin Media. “Our ambition is to give more people in Scotland the broadband boost they deserve. We urge local councils and landlords to work with us to ensure this expansion happens as quickly as possible.”

“I welcome the news that Virgin Media will be rolling out ultrafast broadband to over 300,000 premises in Scotland alongside launching the first Scottish Tech City in Glasgow,” said Fergus Ewing, Cabinet Secretary for the Rural Economy and Connectivity and Member of the Scottish Parliament. “The Scottish Government has put digital connectivity at the heart of its agenda, recognising that broadband is vital to the sustainability of our economy and communities.

“That is why we have made the commitment to ensure that 100% of premises across Scotland will have access to superfast broadband by 2021. Commercial investment will play a huge part in delivering that commitment and I am delighted to welcome the substantial investment that Virgin Media are making in Scotland.”

The new areas included in the announcement includes 55,000 premises in Ayrshire, 70,000 in Fife and a number of small villages which seemingly fit the bill so Virgin Media execs can say they care about everybody.