Dumfries and Galloway is being left behind when it comes to internet speeds according to South Scotland MSP Colin Smyth.

A new report by consumer watchdog Which? shows that broadband speeds in Dumfries and Galloway are around a third of the speed of those in the fastest areas.

According to the report internet connection speeds in the region average 11.8 Mbps compared to the fastest area in Scotland, West Dunbartonshire with an average of 29.6 Mpbs.

South Scotland MSP and Scottish Labour’s Shadow Cabinet Secretary for Infrastructure, Connectivity and Transport Colin Smyth said,

“Scotland faces a digital divide with rural areas such as Dumfries and Galloway unable to access decent broadband.

As this report exposes, the SNP’s roll out of fibre broadband has failed to deliver, with many people in our region receiving super-slow broadband rather than super-fast.

Poor broadband speeds have a massive impact on local businesses who are being put at a competitive disadvantage and it is hugely frustrating for households who often can’t access services online because speeds are too slow and unpredictable.

It’s time we had a clear strategy from both the UK and Scottish Government to properly connect every household in Dumfries and Galloway to superfast broadband or we will continue to be left behind by the failure of both Governments”.