Warning of digital ‘disaster’ over rural roll-out

Parts of Highland Perthshire could be excluded from a flagship programme that will boost rural internet connection.

The news that homes and businesses could be left out has been described as a potential “digital Highland clearance”by a local councillor.

The rollout is part of the R100 (Reaching) programme which aims to install“superfast broadband” speeds of 30Mbps+ to all rural premises across the nation.

The far-reaching £600 million Scottish Government project, in partner with Openreach, promised to provide access by the end of 2021, but has been delayed to 2023.

However, homes or businesses whose broadband speed is less than 30 Mbps and where there are no plans to bring superfast broadband to their address as part of the project, will instead be added to the Scottish Broadband Voucher Scheme.

These properties include some in Glenylon, along the Tay valley and around Loch Rannoch, as well as homes along the A9 and in and around Pitlochry.

The possibility these properties could be left out has been called a “disaster”by Highland ward councillor John Duff.

He added:“Many small businesses desperately trying to operate from home can’t continue with the current extremely slow levels of broadband service.

“The government has abdicated its responsibility to provide a decent rural broadband service and many rural communities are going to need support.”

Scottish Conservative candidate for the Perthshire North constituency Murdo Fraser, added: “With more and more residents and businesses still working from home during the pandemic, there has never been a better time to roll out reliable, fast broadband across the country, and especially to rural areas which have either been without broadband or had to suffer a very poor, slow service.”

However, SNP Perthshire North candidate John Swinney said broadband was a reserved matter and the“inaction”of the Tories forced the Scottish Government to “take ownership of this issue”.

He added:“Because of the actions of the SNP government, the number of premises in Perth and Kinross that can benefit from superfast broadband sits at over 86 per cent.

“Had we not intervened, that figure would be a mere 39 per cent.

“Whilst hugely significant progress has been made towards ensuring that everyone in Perthshire can benefit from superfast broadband, we know that there is still work to be done.

“To that end, the SNP will continue to invest in our rural communities.”