Complete the rollout of superfast broadband in North Scotland by 2026
Last updated 3 years ago
SNP Manifesto 2021, p.74Our £579 million investment in the expansion of superfast broadband means every home and business in South and Central Scotland will have access by 2023, with work in the North of Scotland completed in the next five years…
Our verdict
Status
This promise is in progress. The Scottish Government announced these plans in 2019 as part of the “Reaching 100%” plan to roll out fibre broadband across the country. The plan splits the country into three geographical “procurement lots”: North, Central and South.
In September 2021 the administration announced that work had begun, via a £384m investment, to extend coverage to poorly-connected areas of the North region, including the Oban area, islands and other communities in Argyll and Bute and the Newtonhill and Portlethen area just south of Aberdeen.
“Improving broadband access” (Scottish Government, 2nd September 2021)
Reaching 100%: superfast broadband for all (Scottish Government, 19th August 2019)
Other pledges
Other pledges
As part of this effort, the SNP promised to lay 16 new subsea cables to connect parts of the highlands and islands by the end of 2022.
The SNP also promised to complete the rollout in the South and Central regions by 2023 and implement a broadband voucher scheme.