THOUSANDS of residents and businesses across the Borders are in line for a broadband boost.

Scottish firm GoFibre has further expanded its network in what it described as a “major milestone”.

Of the more than 100,000 premises now ready to connect to ‘lightning-fast’ full fibre broadband, 23,900 are located across the Borders including in Galashiels, Melrose, Selkirk and St Boswells.

Coldstream-based business Laughing Ducks Soft Play said the broadband boost had helped the company move away from a pen and paper booking system.

Owners Anna and Jon Standing said: “Our experience with GoFibre has been such a positive one. Their full fibre is so fast and reliable it has transformed our business’s ability to operate. The transition to digital for things like our booking system, tills and café has been seamless.

“The speed, service and price point are all way better for us than before, and it saves a lot of waste when compared to our old pen and paper ways of doing things.”

Borderers will be able to access up to 1 Gbps speeds with GoFibre, according to the firm.

Neil Conaghan, GoFibre’s CEO, said: "We are proud to have reached this significant milestone in such a short length of time, because that means we’ve been able to make a positive impact on even more lives and businesses quicker. In today’s digital world, where online activity is ever-increasing, a reliable high-speed broadband connection is essential and not having it in place can really hold people and businesses back from reaching their full potential.

“Our unwavering local focus and dedication to customers and local communities sets us apart and has driven us to achieve this milestone, ensuring that we can provide responsive, high-quality customer service from experts with local knowledge.

“This accomplishment firmly places us on the map as a major broadband provider in our regions, and we can’t wait to continue expanding our services, bringing high-quality connectivity to even more communities and customers. Our commitment to innovation and customer satisfaction will drive us forward as we build on this success."