Broadband in Hightae
Broadband in Hightae, Heck, Greenhill and Smallholm is delivered over the Openreach network. The village is served by the Lochmaben exchange (network code WSLON). Most homes already have access to superfast broadband, and Full Fibre (ultrafast) is now being rolled out across the Royal Four Towns through the Scottish Government’s R100 programme.
Current Broadband Availability
| Service Type | Typical Speed | Technology |
|---|---|---|
| Superfast Broadband | Download up to 76 Mbps / Upload up to 15 Mbps | FTTC (Fibre to the Cabinet) |
| Full Fibre (Ultrafast) | Download up to 1600 Mbps / Upload up to 115 Mbps | FTTP (Fibre to the Premises) |
Broadband Status by Postcode – August 2026
Checked a handful of addresses across the Royal Four Towns. Every postcode that can get Full Fibre also gets Superfast, but many are still waiting for the full-fibre build.
| Postcode | Superfast Broadband | Full Fibre (Ultrafast) |
|---|---|---|
| DG11 1JP | Available (up to 76 Mbps) | Available to order now (up to 1600 Mbps) |
| DG11 1JR | Available (up to 76 Mbps) | Available to order now (up to 1600 Mbps) |
| DG11 1JW | Available (up to 76 Mbps) | Available to order now (up to 1600 Mbps) |
| DG11 1JL | Available (up to 76 Mbps) | We’re planning to build in this area |
| DG11 1JN | Available (up to 76 Mbps) | Available to order now (up to 1600 Mbps) |
| DG11 1JX | Available (up to 76 Mbps) | We’re planning to build in this area |
| DG11 1JB | Available (up to 76 Mbps) | Available to order now (up to 1600 Mbps) |
These are real checks from August 2026. Full Fibre is rolling out street by street, so your exact house might be different even if the postcode is the same. Always double-check your own address. Note: Most Full Fibre broadband providers offer downloads up to 910 Mbps, but may support up to 1600 Mbps in the future, as the exchange is configured to support it.
The Openreach Network & Lochmaben Exchange
Openreach owns and maintains the physical cables, cabinets and exchanges. Hightae and the Royal Four Towns fall under the Lochmaben exchange (network code WSLON). Lockerbie has its own exchange a few miles away, but most homes around here are served from Lochmaben.
Choosing a Broadband Provider
You can choose from dozens of providers that use the Openreach network, including BT, Sky, EE, TalkTalk, Vodafone, Plusnet, Zen Internet, Octopus Energy and many others. Zen is a particularly good choice for its excellent customer service and reliability. Hightae.co.uk owners have been using it since they moved to the village.
Digital Voice – Your Landline Now Runs Over Broadband
Openreach is withdrawing the old copper phone network. The national copper switch-off is due in January 2027. Many landlines already run as Digital Voice over broadband. Check with your provider if yours has moved yet. Where it has, your phone works over your broadband connection instead of the old copper wires. The two services are joined together:
- If your broadband goes down, your landline phone will also stop working (no dial tone).
- Calls are made over the internet (VoIP) – clearer sound and extra features like call blocking.
- For phone faults you contact your broadband provider first (they handle the Digital Voice service).
If you still rely on a landline, make sure you have a battery-backup phone or a mobile ready as a backup. Most providers now include Digital Voice as standard when you order broadband.
Faults & Support
For broadband or Digital Voice faults, contact your chosen provider first. They will raise any network issue with Openreach. In the case of a wider power cut affecting broadband (and therefore your phone), the same team that handles electricity faults often works closely with them.
Last reviewed: September 2026