Ednam street among slowest in Scotland

Popple Burn Park in Ednam, which has been named the second slowest street in Scotland for broadband. Photo: Bill McBurnie

New research by USwitch, a price comparison website, found that Popple Burn Park in the Roxburghshire village had average download speeds of just 2.07 Mbps, just 0.01Mbps faster than the lowest in the country – Aultachruine in Glenshiel with 2.06 Mbps.

This is compared to the fastest speed in Scotland, Cairn Wynd in Inverurie, which boasts average speeds of 276.40 Mbps, more than 100 times faster.

The sluggish speeds have led to calls for improved broadband for rural areas like the Borders.

Local MP John Lamont said: “There is little more frustrating than slow internet speeds.

“I am not surprised to see Ednam with such slow speeds as it is a common complaint from constituents.

“This comes as the Scottish Government delay the rollout of their flagship R100 programme by two years, to 2023, which is really disappointing.

“The importance of a quick and reliable broadband connection has been shown to many of this year with more working from home, or even just spending more time at home.

“Our rural economy relies on better broadband, as only then can the full potential of Borders businesses and entrepreneurs be fully realised.”

The fastest speed in the UK was in Warrington in Cheshire with a speed of 639 Mbps.

However, Scotland does not have a monopoly on slow speeds as the slowest speed in the UK is in Weybridge in Surrey, with just 0.12 Mbps.