Scottish broadband booster

Th e Scottish Government’s £600 million pledge for superfast broadband will make a real difference to Scotland. The investment will not only provide a major boost for Scotland’s digital economy but also have tangible benefits for Scottish residents.

A major point to come out of the recent Scottish Budget Statement was the unveiling of a £600m boost for the Reaching 100 (R100) programme. Cabinet Secretary for Finance, Derek Mackay, MSP, has pledged the sum to complete the programme, which commits the government to providing every home and business in the country with access to “superfast broadband” by 2021.

So from Stirling to Stornoway, we’ll finally be living in a country with adequate coverage. Speaking of that current situation, which countless commentators have criticised and agonised over, I think it’s only right that the government is highly commended for this bold initiative.

While it seems there is finally commitment being made by Westminster, this pledge will see people in Scotland enjoy internet speeds three times faster than the 10Mb minimum coverage being rolled out south of the Border.

Having fair and sufficient internet speeds will make for a more technologically attractive Scotland. It gives us a chance of being at the forefront of the digital revolution and that attraction to investment will boost trade.

And for those thinking that this money will only be good for big business and high-flyers looking to secure their latest deal with outside investors, think again.

Updating our creaking infrastructure will help start-up businesses enjoy connection speeds that will allow people to work freely from home, with speeds currently only enjoyed in the most technologically advanced of office spaces.

It means that people in Scotland looking to use the internet to stream content or settle down with a film using the internet won’t have to put up with the all-too-familiar buffering wheel.

Closing the gap in those rural areas that aren’t as well-connected is crucial, and ensures that you can enjoy internet worthy of the 21st century.

Commsworld has previously met with the Scottish Government to give our thoughts on Scotland’s digital infrastructure so it’s encouraging to see some of our inputs reflected in these initiatives.

We hope that we can work closely with Holyrood to offer continued advice, as although 30 Mbps is incredible at the moment, technology moves quickly.

Therefore we’ll offer expert advice on how Scotland can stay at the forefront of the infrastructure landscape.

It’s exciting times when locals in Orkney could be enjoying faster broadband than those in many of the UK’S biggest cities. Ricky Nicol is chief executive of Commsworld, Scotland’s leading telecommunications network provider