Superfast broadband delay likened to ‘digital Highland Clearance’

Delays to the rollout of a broadband programme in Highland Perthshire have been likened to a potential “digital Highland Clearance”.

Perth and Kinross councillor John Duff expressed his frustration at news many areas will not be included in the R100 programme – which aims to provide superfast broadband.

Mr Duff, said the issue affects most of the area and believes the issue makes working from home more difficult.

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

“Following a review of the Scottish Broadband Voucher Scheme, provisional data from BT’s Northern contract, which covers Highland Perthshire, appears to show that thousands of properties still retain the £5,000 main voucher scheme.

“This suggests that these properties will not be included in the national R100 scheme and that they will be expected to find an alternative broadband provider other than BT.”

He added: “This would be a disaster for the area – potentially a digital Highland Clearance.”

By September last year, huge strides had been made in delivering superfast broadband across Tayside and Fife but gaps in coverage remained.

Figures showed 94.3% of premises across Scotland had an internet connection of 30Mbps or higher, compared with just 42.2% nine years prior.

A Scottish Government spokesperson referred The Courier to online information about the R100 initiative.

Information on the Scottish Government website shows superfast coverage of 30Mbps and above in Perth and Kinross increased from 39.3% in 2014 to 87.4% last month.

Jim Fairley, standing for the SNP for Perthshire South and Kinross-shire, said: “The SNP has already delivered a sea of change in connectivity for Perth and Kinross.

“In 2014, less than 40% of the area had access to superfast broadband – now it’s over 87%. That’s down to the SNP government – not the Tories at Westminster where the responsibility for this lies.

“This is a reserved issue but using its limited powers, the SNP government invested £579 million to roll out fibre broadband in rural Scotland. In stark contrast, the Tories have contributed just £25.5m.”

“This would be a disaster for the area

FORGOTTEN: Thousands of homes in Highland Perthshire will not be included in the programme and may have to find alternative broadband providers.