Over 750,000 Scottish homes and businesses can now connect to
fibre broadband thanks to the £428 million Digital Scotland
Superfast Broadband programme.
It means that more than 90% of Scotland now has access to fibre
broadband thanks to the programme and commercial deployment,
which is part of our commitment to deliver 100% superfast
broadband access across Scotland by 2021.
The milestone was passed as Connectivity Secretary visited BRAG Enterprises in
Lochgelly – a social enterprise benefitting from the arrival of
fibre broadband in the town.
Welcoming the milestone he said:
“I am delighted that more people are now able to benefit from
fibre broadband, with over 750,000 premises across Scotland now
able to connect. Businesses like this one here in Lochgelly – one
of the 77,000 connected in the last six months - can now connect
to their fastest-ever broadband speeds for the first time showing
our investment in digital infrastructure is paying off.
“The programme, is reaching more communities than originally
planned and will continue to do so in the coming months. However,
local people need to sign up for the new, faster services with an
internet service provider, as upgrades are not automatic. I am of
course aware that many homes and businesses do not yet have
access. Under the further R100 contract, we will be proceeding
with the next phase of our pledge to enable access to broadband
for every home and business to Scotland within the lifetime of
this Scottish Parliament.”
Paul Melvin, Facilities Manager at BRAG said:
“The difference that fibre has made here is amazing, small
businesses like Re-Employ based in the facility who struggled to
upload are really benefitting. Now they can download material and
their production has increased.”
Robert Thorburn, BT Scotland’s Fibre Broadband Director, said:
“The Digital Scotland fibre rollout has continued to make good
progress over the last six months, reaching places like Port
Askaig and Crinan in Argyll and Bute, Benbecula in the Western
Isles and Glencaple in Dumfries and Galloway. Thanks to
engineering innovation, thousands of people on lines once thought
to be incapable of carrying a superfast service are now able to
upgrade to higher speeds.
“And with strong take-up rates set to drive the reinvestment of
millions of pounds back into the network, we look forward to
continuing work on this huge and challenging infrastructure
project to benefit the people of Scotland.”
Background
The Digital Scotland programme is delivered through two projects
– led by Highlands and Islands Enterprise in its area and the
Scottish Government in the rest of Scotland. Other funding
partners include the UK Government through Broadband Delivery UK
(BDUK), BT, local authorities and the EU via the European
Regional Development Fund. BT is investing £126M in the
programme.
