BT has announced plans to upgrade a further five telephone exchanges in rural Scotland, it has been reported.

Businesses and consumers in Kinlocheil near Fort William, Applecross in Wester Ross, Colintraive in Argyll and Bute, Orton in Moray, and Drumbeg in Sutherland are set to receive enhanced broadband services as a result of the operation, reports the Press and Journal.

Each of the exchanges is currently working at, or approaching full capacity, the news provider noted.

Brendan Dick, Director of BT Scotland, acknowledged that demand is now outstripping capacity at some smaller rural exchanges, owing to the great popularity of broadband.

"This latest announcement means we will be working with the Scottish government to upgrade nearly 80 small exchanges across Scotland over the coming year," he told the news provider.

Earlier this week, it was reported in the Stornoway Gazette that MSPs will be debating the future of high-speed broadband in the Highlands & Isles in Holyrood today (Wednesday February 3rd).