The £18 million investment, funded by the UK Government and co-managed by the Scottish Government, will see premises in Dumfries & Galloway added to the existing Project Gigabit contract being delivered by Openreach. This builds upon the 8,000 gigabit-capable connections already delivered in Dumfries & Galloway by the Scottish Government’s £600m+ R100 programme.

The Project Gigabit contract – where build started in Autumn 2025 – will now deliver gigabit-capable broadband to over 77,000 premises in Scotland covering some of the hardest-to-reach communities in the Highlands, Na h-Eileanan an Iar, Argyll and Bute, as well as parts of Central and Southern Scotland.

Business minister Richard Lochhead said: “Fast, reliable broadband is essential for connecting communities and supporting economic growth across Scotland. This additional investment will ensure that more homes and businesses in Dumfries & Galloway can access the gigabit-capable connections they need to thrive in the digital age.

“Through our own R100 programme and the management of Project Gigabit in Scotland, we are further boosting connections across the region to ensure that even more communities will benefit from faster, reliable broadband for generations to come.”

UK Government telecoms minister Liz Lloyd said: “Whether it’s a farmer managing their business, or people video-calling loved ones, fast and reliable broadband makes everyday life easier. This investment will bring those opportunities to thousands more across Dumfries & Galloway.”

Openreach partnership director for Scotland Robert Thorburn said: “We’ve already started connecting some of Scotland’s most rural homes and businesses to Full Fibre through the Project Gigabit contracts, and we’re delighted to continue that progress in Dumfries & Galloway.

“We’re committed to making sure that people living and working across the country can access faster, more reliable broadband. With more than 1.7 million properties already able to benefit from Full Fibre, this latest investment will help even more communities thrive in the digital age.”