More than one million Scottish homes and businesses will have access to high-speed broadband by the end of next year.

BT made the announcement as it revealed that a further 147,000 premises in 35 communities from the Borders and Lothians to Argyll and Bute and the Highlands will be able to access its fibre broadband service in 2013.

BT Scotland director Brendan Dick said about half the households north of the border will be able to connect to the network by the end of next year.

He said: "Fibre broadband opens up a whole new high-speed world."