HUNDREDS of flats and apartments in the Borders are set to benefit from faster and 'more reliable' broadband.

Openreach has teamed up with Scottish Borders Housing Association (SBHA) to provide full fibre broadband to 440 homes.

This 'ultrafast' upgrade will improve broadband speeds and reliability for residents, including those in Galashiels and Kelso.

The upgrade will cover around 60 different buildings, allowing residents to access full fibre, the UK's 'most reliable' broadband technology.

Openreach has already started the work, delivering 'ultrafast' broadband to dozens of homes in four buildings.

Gary Brown, Openreach partnership manager, said: "We’re thrilled to be working with Scottish Borders Housing Association on this significant broadband upgrade.

"Working together is a crucial step in making sure that residents across the Borders have access to some of the best broadband available anywhere in the UK.

"The upgrades are not automatic, so once full fibre is available, tenants should contact their broadband provider, place an order to get connected, and we’ll do the rest."

The flats and apartments will join more than 33,000 homes and businesses across the Borders that are already able to upgrade to full fibre broadband.

Caroline Purcell, director of property services at SBHA, said: "At Scottish Borders Housing Association, we are committed to digital inclusion, ensuring that everyone has the opportunity to thrive in the digital age.

"This broadband upgrade is a vital step toward increasing accessibility and flexibility in how people living in SBHA homes connect and communicate - especially important given the rural nature of our communities.

"We believe that no one should be left behind - and by working with Openreach to help remove barriers to online access, we are empowering people to share in the advantages of reliable digital options."