Superslow Highland internet

A GOVERNMENT plan to connect the Highlands to superfast broadband will not be finished until 0 6 – four years later than originally intended, a minister has admitted.

Paul Wheelhouse, the minister for connectivity, said the R100 scheme will take longer than the Government had hoped – it was meant to deliver superfast broadband to 100 per cent of premises by the end of this year.

A legal challenge involving a bidder for the scheme caused delays before the case was eventually settled last year, allowing the £384million investment in the North lot – covering the Highlands, Aberdeen and Dundee – to go ahead.

Speaking yesterday to MSPs on the rural economy and connectivity committee, Mr Wheelhouse that said many premises would be able to access speeds of up to 1,000 megabits per second instead of the 30 megabits originally proposed.

Scottish Tory MSP Edward Mountain, who is convenor of the committee, then asked the minister: ‘Did I get the impression that lot one of R100 will be complete by 0 6?’

Mr Wheelhouse replied: ‘That is what we were assuming at the time the contract award was made to BT.

‘The vast majority of the build would be earlier than that.

‘But yes, that’s correct, 0 6 is what we’re starting from.’

Mr Mountain then said: ‘That will be bitterly disappointing to people in the Highlands who were expecting it in 0 1, – indeed were promised it in 0 1 by your predecessor.’ However, Mr Wheelhouse insisted that at least 86 per cent of premises in the North lot would have a full-fibre connection, with much faster speeds than the original ‘superfast’ service.