Council Leaders respond to research released today which rates Edinburgh as the best place in the country for working from home.
The findings were released by USwitch, which looked at broadband speeds and access to green space as part of their working from home study.
Commenting, Depute Leader Cammy Day, Edinburgh’s Smart Cities lead, said:
Connectivity is key for our Capital and we’ve worked for many years now with broadband providers like BT, Cityfibre and Virgin Media to put the right infrastructure in place. Together we’ve improved speeds and access to good wifi right across the City, and we’re continuing to build on this as we work towards becoming a truly data-driven Capital. Having good quality access to broadband is also a key building block for our new Digital and Smart City strategy, which will help drive forward digital inclusion to tackle inequalities and improve access to services, work towards our sustainability and carbon net zero targets, and support the renewal of Edinburgh’s economy from Covid-19.
Council Leader Adam McVey added:
This year has reminded many of us how much we rely on good broadband for working from home and staying connected with our loved ones, and how fortunate we are to have a high-speed network here in Edinburgh. This hasn’t happened by chance – it is part of a citywide effort to invest in the future of our city and enable thousands of people to access and benefit from the latest technology. It is no surprise then that Edinburgh has been recognised as the best place in Scotland for remote working, and this will only grow in importance as more businesses begin to embrace remote working for the longer-term. I’m pleased the Council has been able to play its part in helping the quality of home working for many thousands of people, including our own staff.