Councillors are expected to back plans next week for rolling out free wifi to 14 more Highland towns – while others in the remotest corners could be years away from the luxury.
Those recommended for inclusion are Alness, Aviemore, Dingwall, Dornoch, Drumnadrochit, Fort Augustus, Fort William, Invergordon, Nairn, Portree, Tain, Thurso, Ullapool and Wick.
Money from the Inverness and Highland city-region deal will be ringfenced for the purpose. The council’s Places committee will discuss it on Wednesday.
It is confident the additional resource will “stimulate economic growth and increase digital inclusion.”
Durness and Golspie are among places that will have to wait.
Durness hotelier – and councillor – Hugh Morrison said the council was unable to prioritise northwest Sutherland for one simple reason.
“We haven’t got fibre optic here yet, and without that we can’t be part of the loop. It’s the same old story – the further you are from Inverness the less you get,” he said.
“It’s frustrating when visitors’ priority is no longer the menu but the wifi code.”
While Aviemore features on the list, Grantown and Kingussie are on a “phase two” schedule.
Badenoch and Strathspey councillor Bill Lobban said: “Putting it in Aviemore is the sensible thing to do if we’ve limited resources. It’s a good start.”
SNP opposition group leader Maxine Smith, a member of the city deal council board, welcomed the proposed expansion but appealed for Invergordon to have priority.
“This area brings in millions of pounds every year from the cruise industry,” she said.
Places committee chairman Allan Henderson said: “The priority is tourism hotspots, not population. If it proves successful, I’m sure members will continue to look at a wider roll-out.”
The first phase of the Inverness City wifi project – “Ness Wifi” – provides fast internet coverage in a pilot area including the Victorian Market, Falcon Square and surrounding streets.
The recently introduced service has been used by an average 300-500 people each day.
