New plans to dramatically increase the speed of broadband internet services to homes and businesses in Scotland by 2015 have been welcomed by the UK’s largest online parcel delivery specialist.

Parcel2Go, which helps individuals and businesses across Britain to send consignments to addresses here in the UK and countries all over the world, said if the Scottish government’s plans come to fruition, the result would be a major boost for small firms.

As part of the Infrastructure Action Plan (IAP), the government hopes that 85 to 90 per cent of properties in Scotland will benefit from broadband speeds of between 40-80Mbps. At the moment the average broadband speed in the UK is just 6.8Mbps.

The growing importance of being able to trade online and effectively manage a business through the internet means the plans could have a substantial impact on companies in Scotland. Parcel2Go’s marketing director Richard Mercer, said the parts of the IAP aimed at improving access to mobile data services could also be hugely beneficial to firms.

He said: “More and more small businesses are coming to rely on the internet and are managing to boost their takings through e-commerce. Parcel2Go helps thousands of these companies find cheap courier deals so they can ship consignments across the world, and from feedback, we understand all too well how important online services have become to the UK’s small businesses.

“With Britain facing the possibility of another recession, schemes such as this which will help firms to grow should be made a top priority. It is innovative and dynamic companies that will help Britain move towards an improved economic situation and Britain should be doing everything possible to support that growth.”

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