Broadband record under fire as ‘vast areas’ face slow speeds

About a third of Scotland’s council areas are poised to miss out on a national target for broadband coverage.

The flagship Digital Scotland push was aimed of providing 95 per cent coverage across the country by the end of this year. But the latest figures from the thinkbroadband website show that 13 councils remain below the 95 per cent target.

Scots were initially promised superfast broadband with a download speed of at least 30Mbps, although this was later changed to high speed fibre broadband with slower speeds. The original target now won’t be met with 92.4 per cent coverage across Scotland, although the latter is on track.

Finance Secretary Derek Mackay unveiled the next stage in ministers’ plans in Thursday’s Budget, claiming it will mean all homes and businesses getting access to superfast broadband by 2021.

But Tory MP for Berwickshire, Roxburgh and Selkirk, John Lamont, said: “There are vast areas of the country that are still struggling with slow internet speeds.”

The latest figures show the Western Isles is at 81 per cent, Orkney is at 82 per cent and Shetland is at 84 per cent. Argyll and Bute is on 87 per cent, with the Scottish Borders, Angus, Perth and Kinross and Highlands all on 91 per cent.

A Scottish Government spokesman said: “Despite the significantly more challenging geography, Scotland has seen the largest increase in superfast coverage across the UK in the previous 12 months.” 0 John Lamont says vast areas struggle with broadband speed