Government commits £157m to broadband in Scottish Highlands and islands

The Isle of Lewis in the Hebrides | Credit: rachinmanila/Pixabay

The largest contract awarded as part of government’s Project Gigabit programme aims to bring fast connections to some parts of the country where only 7% of premises currently have access

Tens of thousands of homes across Scotland will receive a “huge broadband upgrade” following a £157m-worth contract between the UK government and Openreach.

A total of 65,000 homes and businesses in hard-to-reach areas will have access to fast broadband for the first time, as part of the government plans to tackle digital exclusion. It is the largest contract ever awarded under Project Gigabit – the government’s initiative to bring gigabit-capable broadband to remote areas.

Sites across the Highlands, the Outer Hebrides – where only 7% of premises have access to gigabit broadband – and the Inner Hebrides will benefit from the connectivity boost which is intended to support the local economy.

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The deal forms part of the £800m agreement with Openreach announced last and follows work already underway to connect over 227,000 premises in remotes parts of Wales and England. It also builds on a prior Project Gigabit contract in Scotland, awarded in February through a partnership with the Scottish Government, for up to 11,000 premises in the Borders and Midlothian.

While it has been nine years since the Scottish Government’s landmark Reaching 100 (R100) programme was launched, hard-to-reach areas in Scotland have consistently ranked as some of the UK’s most poorly connected areas over recent years. The scheme, which aims to bring superfast broadband to every house and business in Scotland, was initially set to be finished by 2021 but has since been delayed to 2028.

The UK government said more contracts are expected to be signed later this year for Orkney, Shetland and across the east of Scotland.

Telecoms minister Chris Bryant said: “Digital exclusion for people living and working in hard-to-reach areas across Scotland can be a huge obstacle to living a better and healthier life. Elderly and vulnerable people could miss out on the best treatment options in North Ayrshire, while budding entrepreneurs could be held back from their dream of running a successful business in Moray.”