The Scotsman newspaper interviewed Kevin Russell, chief executive of 3 UK who confirmed that 3 UK will invest over 38 million pounds in doubling the number of 3G mobile network masts in Scotland. The number of masts in Scotland by the end of September this year will total 1,400.

He told the Scotsman that 3 is spending 37 per cent more per head in the country than in England, as it bids to meet market demand for dongle services.

"The take-up of internet services in Scotland lags the UK, with some calculations that 60 per cent of people in Scotland don't access the internet.  "That has previously been down to not enough towers with equipment to broadcast strong enough signals."

This news closely follows 3's Bus ( see above ) visit to Glasgow in late August to promote its 3G Mobile Broadband and associated products.