Openreach urges Cumbernauld homes to upgrade broadband
More than 13,000 homes and businesses in Cumbernauld are eligible to upgrade to Openreach's Full Fibre network, but only a fraction have made the switch.
Despite a £3.9 million investment and coverage reaching more than half of the town, just over one in five properties have upgraded.
(Image: Supplied)
Read more: New Glasgow letting agent aims to manage 1,000 properties in two years
Robert Thorburn, Openreach's partnership director for Scotland, said: "Fast and reliable full fibre broadband gives households and businesses a significant boost.
"As the UK's leading provider of fibre infrastructure, Openreach is at the forefront of the digital transformation, connecting communities all over the UK and future-proofing the network for decades to come.
"Our extensive network – the largest in the UK – means residents can shop around and find the best deals that suit their needs.
"But it's important to remember that upgrades don't happen automatically.
"People need to order it to take advantage of the technology."
The uptake challenge extends beyond Cumbernauld, with neighbouring areas such as Shotts, Cambusnethan, and Greengairs also lagging behind in adoption.
Across North Lanarkshire, more than 85,000 properties now have access to Full Fibre.
The technology is said to provide" gigabit-capable speeds", which allows multiple devices to connect simultaneously without slowing down.
Mr Thorburn said many eligible residents might not realise they need to actively request an upgrade.
He said: "It's important to remember that upgrades don't happen automatically.
"People need to order it to take advantage of the technology."
(Image: Supplied)
Read more: Meet the Glasgow pupil who raised hundreds of pounds to buy a life-saving device
Openreach says Full Fibre is suited to streaming, gaming, video calls, online banking, and business operations.
The company also notes that newer broadband packages are increasingly competitively priced, with some customers potentially paying the same or less than their current bills.
Openreach's Full Fibre network currently reaches more than 18 million properties across the UK.
The company aims to expand this to 25 million by the end of 2026 and believes it could reach 30 million by 2030 with the right investment conditions.
Residents can check their eligibility using Openreach's online Full Fibre checker.
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