Broadband pledge will be tough to deliver

The Scottish Government’s pledge for superfast broadband coverage across Scotland by 2021 will be “difficult” to deliver, a public finance watchdog has warned.

An Auditor General report found further investment may be needed on top of the initial £600 million and highlighted a lack of clarity over how 100% coverage of 30 megabit per second (Mb/s) speeds will be achieved.

The report praised the government for hitting its previous target to provide fibre broadband acess to 95% of premises by the end of 2017, saying without public investment only two-thirds would have access.

Overall connection speeds have increased across Scotland but around a quarter of rural areas cannot receive 10 Mb/s.

Auditors found that, up to March 2018, the Scottish Government and Highlands and Island Enterprise (HIE) had paid £259 million to BT for broadband roll-out.

Lower costs and higher take-up is expected to enable around 60,000 more premises to be reached than originally planned.

The report, prepared by Audit Scotland, recommends lessons are learned from the failure of the Community Broadband Scotland plan to deliver anticipated benefits for rural community broadband.

Just 13 of the 63 initiatives it helped finance were successful with a lack of specialist skills, poor communication and complex tendering requirements causing lengthy delays and failed procurements.

Further recommendations include publishing clear communication, especially for rural areas.

Paul Wheelhouse, Minister for Energy, Connectivity and the Islands, said: “Our 100% commitment is unmatched anywhere else in the UK.”

Paul Wheelhouse: “Our commitment is unmatched.”