Picture above is of John Lamont with residents of Denholm discussing issues with their local broadband.
BT and Openreach have been told by the regulator Ofcom to split and for Openreach to become a distinct, legally separate company.
Openreach currently controls fibre connections, ducts and pipes behind the UK's broadband infrastructure and sells access to most internet service providers, including BT. BT's rivals such as Sky, TalkTalk and Vodafone, which use Openreach's network to offer broadband to consumers, have long complained of high charges, poor service and failure to invest in the division.
The news comes after John Lamont met with 17 residents in Nenthorn, near Kelso to discuss problems they are having with their broadband.
Following the meeting, John has contacted BT as one of the internet providers, to urge them to connect residents to the fibre cable currently being installed through the village.
John Lamont MSP has said the news about BT provides an opportunity for Openreach to focus on rural broadband rollout. He has also written to BT to ask them to provide investment for the Nenthorn residents in order to help meet their commitment for superfast broadband for every property by 2021.
John Lamont MSP said: “The news that Openreach will separate from BT is long overdue and provides the perfect opportunity for Openreach to reassess it’s priorities.
“I hope that they are able to start to focus on rural broadband rollout and provide some good news for residents in Nenthorn and elsewhere in the Borders.
“A fibre cable is currently being installed through the village, but the residents are not due to get use of it. The UK Government has made a commitment for superfast broadband to be available for every property by 2021, so I have written to BT to ask them to invest in Nenthorn to help to meet this standard early.
John added: “If you're an entrepreneur living in the Borders with a great idea for a new start-up tech business, you shouldn't have to go to the city to get a decent internet connection. And residents who are paying the same price as everyone else, shouldn't have to put up with a poor service. This needs to change and change fast before the Borders is left behind.”