THE investment vehicle of Sir Brian Souter has backed a company which uses spare radio frequencies made available by the shift from analogue to digital television to connect remote communities to the internet.

Souter Investments said high speed broadband was becoming as important as any other utility in its importance to allowing people to fully participate fully in society."

London-based Broadway Partners says the use of what is known as “TV WhiteSpace radio” makes high speed connection in the challenging geographies that are typical of rural areas, where trees, hills and low population densities typically prelude the use of conventional radio or fibre.

The technology has been some years in development and in gaining regulatory approval, but it is coming to the market as Scottish and Welsh Governments, as well as English and Irish counties, embark on procurement exercises to ensure superfast broadband is available in all homes and businesses.

Calum Cusiter, investment director of Souter Investments, said: “Broadway has impressed us by their enthusiasm for the challenge of providing this service to rural and under-served communities, and by embracing new technology and new business models to make it both possible and affordable.”