Scottish Government contracts have delivered faster internet access to around 70,000 rural and island households and businesses across the country, according to latest figures released today.
Around 200 locations saw deployment of full fibre broadband in the last six months, as Openreach engineers continued work on the Reaching 100% (R100) contracts.
The £600 million broadband rollout extended from Yell and Unst in Shetland to west coast islands like Mull and Luing, the Trossachs in Stirling and the small villages of Eskdalemuir and Waterbeck in Dumfries and Galloway.
The next places set for upgrade include villages on the Isle of Skye, the port of Mallaig, Hamnavoe in Shetland and parts of the Cairngorms National Park.
Business Minister Richard Lochhead said: “Our Reaching 100% digital connectivity programme is bringing faster, reliable broadband to more people across Scotland every single day.
“Reliable internet isn’t just a convenience. It provides better access to education and public services, enables remote working and provides more opportunities for rural businesses to reach global markets. That’s why we’re committed to extending coverage where upgrades are most needed.
“With around 70,000 premises now connected through these contracts, I look forward to monitoring continued progress as rural communities make use of their new full fibre connections.”
The R100 contracts are being delivered by digital network Openreach and its build partners.
Openreach Chief Commercial Officer Katie Milligan said: “There’s been more good progress in our efforts to connect Scotland’s hardest-to-reach locations.
“Our engineers are showing real innovation to upgrade offshore communities sustainably, putting them on a digital par with city centres while protecting their unique environments.
“We’re excited to see more people moving to full fibre services, and we encourage local businesses and residents to check online to see if they can get a faster, more reliable service.”
Full fibre broadband offers speeds more than 30 times faster than the Scottish Government’s original superfast targets, providing a future-proof connection that supports everything from seamless streaming and online gaming to enhanced productivity for businesses.
Residents can check if their property is ready for connection and register for updates at www.openreach.co.uk/r100. Once the technology is available, customers can arrange upgrades through their preferred provider.
