Hawick-based company Emtelle, which manufactures cable duct - the plastic piping which encases underground fibre-optic cables - has helped BT reach its milestone of connecting one million homes and business in Scotland.
Last year alone, Emtelle produced more than 29 million metres of duct for BT's roll-out of fibre-optic broadband across the UK. The company employs 180 people at its two manufacturing plants in the Borders. Openreach engineers have laid more than 1850km of fibre cable and more than 3500 cabinets have been built.
Brendan Dick, BT Scotland director, said: "The deployment is good news for our supply chain, with Emtelle being a great example of a local company that's thriving though its support of this enormous undertaking."
Emtelle UK chairman George Brown said: "Emtelle is delighted to help BT celebrate this major milestone in the roll-out of its broadband network.
"Our relationship we have developed with BT over 30 years has provided a stable platform that has allowed Emtelle to invest long term to drive down costs for the benefit of the business and supporting the BT fibre optic roll out.
"This has allowed Emtelle to develop business in other areas, including a thriving export business, which in turn has helped create more jobs."
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