Superfast broadband target ‘will be missed’

A FLAGSHIP SNP manifesto promise to deliver superfast broadband to every home and firm in the country by 2021 will not be delivered, industry sources have warned.

Despite its pledge, the Scottish Government is not due to reveal the preferred bidder for the project in the North of the country – where the expansion is likely to be most challenging – until later this year.

The contract will not be awarded until next year.

Four firms are in the running but it is understood that some of those bidding do not believe the existing timetable is achievable. A senior industry source said: ‘The Scottish Government says 2021 but it is not awarding contracts until 2020.

‘The design and planning process is very detailed, so it will be very difficult. It is the North of Scotland, so it will be more expensive.

‘If there are rivers or mountains involved, then it is all the more difficult.

‘The programme has been going for four years and in most regions there have been delays of a year or 18 months compared to the intended timescales.’

The SNP manifesto for the 2016 Holyrood election pledged to deliver ‘100 per cent superfast broadband coverage’ by 2021.

Rural Economy Secretary Fergus Ewing has said that he will quit his post if the project is not completed in time.

According to the Connected Nations report from industry regulator Ofcom last year, 92 per cent of premises in Scotland have superfast broadband. The goal of the Scottish Government’s R100 programme is to expand this to all homes.

It said this week that BT was the only bidder for the Central and South contracts.

In the North, four companies are in the running – BT, SSE Telecoms, Axione and Gigaclear.

Conservative Highland and Island MSP Edward Mountain said: ‘I have heard rumours to the effect that 2023 is the earliest it will be delivered.

‘People in the Highlands and Islands will be justifiably angry and feel misled by this Government, as it promised that this will be delivered by 2021.

‘People have not only waited long enough, businesses are being hamstrung by it.’

Referring to the broadband pledge, Mr Ewing told the Scottish Land and Estates conference last year: ‘If I don’t deliver this by 2021, I think it will be time for Fergus Ewing to depart and do something else and leave the job to somebody else.

‘But I can assure you, we’re on the case.’

Gigaclear had five contracts across Devon and Somerset terminated last month for failing to meet targets for the number of homes and businesses connected.

Last night, a Scottish Government spokesman said: ‘A number of factors, including UK Government policy changes, have had a bearing on the procurement process.

‘Delivery timescales will be confirmed once we have a supplier in place for each of the R100 programme’s three lots covering the North, Central and South areas.

‘Final tenders were submitted on August 23 and detailed evaluation is in progress.’

‘Businesses are being hamstrung’