Bosses of an Elgin technology company have hit out after being asked to pay a four-figure sum for high speed broadband they get at home for £40.
The success of Hunted Cow Studios is reliant on reliable internet access as they produce and upload free-to-play online games and apps.
But, the South Street company cannot access state-of-the-art broadband because their line is connected directly to the exchange and not to the existing public grid.
Speaking last night, company director, Andrew Mulholland, said it was all hugely frustrating.
The 32-year-old said: “At the moment, we have three standard broadband connections, which gives us a reasonable speed of 40 Megabits.
“If we had fibre optic, we would be up to 80 Megabits. We are paying about £200 a month, and they said it would be about £1500 a month to get fibre optic, whereas at home I have it for £40. We can’t justify that.
“It’s bad when I can go home and upload faster than I can at work, and it’s frustrating that there’s nothing really we can do until BT decide to get up and do it.”
Moray Council is at the front end of a fibre optic roll out scheme projected to achieve 90% coverage by the end of 2015.
The most recent area to be connected is Cullen, while parts of Elgin, Forres, Buckie, Lhanbryde, Findhorn, Kinloss and Lossiemouth are already live.
Council convener, Stewart Cree, described Hunted Cow’s situation as “perverse” and said he plans to get in touch with BT for answers.
He said: “One of the most successful gaming firms in the town does not have high speed broadband.
“It seems perverse that in the centre of Elgin, in such a key industry, that they can’t access high speed broadband.
“Something must be done, as we don’t want to discourage other companies of this nature.”
A spokesman for BT said: “So far in Elgin we have delivered fibre broadband to customers through existing green street cabinets. However, Hunted Cow’s line is connected direct to the exchange.
“As part of the roll-out for the Digital Scotland Superfast Broadband programme, we are reaching exchange only customers by building new cabinets.
“South Street is in the intervention area. The team announce new tranches of exchange areas for fibre every quarter, indeed the next announcement will be made next week.”