THE Scottish Government has announced that it will exceed its commitment to deliver superfast broadband to all premises in Scotland.
The Government’s Reaching 100% Broadband (R100) project will be the most ambitious investment in internet provision across the whole of the UK and will go a long way to future-proof Scotland’s internet infrastructure.
Now, thanks to the roll-out of full-fibre broadband, many areas will be provided with speeds beyond “superfast”, with some properties reaching up to 1000 megabits per second (Mbps) instead of the 30Mbps originally proposed. This could reduce the roughly 19-minute wait needed to download a HD film to only 34 seconds.
Minister for Connectivity Paul Wheelhouse updated Parliament on the details of the contracts to deliver the R100 programme. He said the roll-out will place Scotland “years ahead of the rest of the UK” in terms of digital connectivity.
He added: “R100 will ensure that Scotland is ahead of the curve, not just in the UK, but internationally.
“Through our investment, we will extend full-fibre broadband to much of rural Scotland, going beyond our original commitment, and helping to deliver future-proofed economic, social and environmental benefits for the whole country.
“This is one of the most challenging broadband infrastructure builds anywhere in the world, and this, combined with the decision to future-proof our technology, means the work will take time to complete.
“We are also setting up a voucher scheme which will launch later this year.”
By the end of R100, all premises across Scotland will have access to speeds of at least 30Mbps.
Any properties which are not targeted through the contracts, or will benefit through contracts after 2021, will be eligible for the Scottish Government’s voucher scheme which will allow people to obtain superfast broadband from other sources, such as from satellite and mobile operators.
This will ensure superfast access for all premises by the end of 2021.
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