Tag: connectivity

Driving digital connectivity

Broadband connection milestone reached

More than one million faster broadband connections have been delivered to homes and businesses across Scotland, backed by £1 billion of publicly-driven investment.

The £463 million Digital Scotland Superfast Broadband (DSSB) programme launched in 2014 and connected more than 950,600 premises to fibre-based broadband – over 150,000 more than originally anticipated. The build was completed in 2020, with independent analysis showing that the programme is delivering £12 of benefits to the economy for every £1 of public funding.

The £600 million Reaching 100% (R100) programme, one of the most ambitious and complex digital infrastructure programmes in Europe is now rolling out connections in some of the country’s most challenging rural locations. 

Originally conceived as a superfast broadband programme, R100 is now providing a gigabit-capable connection – a speed more than 30 times faster than superfast broadband – in around 99% of cases. Building to some of the hardest-to-reach parts of Scotland, 48,000 connections have so far been delivered through the R100 contracts, with a further 3,800 connections provided through the R100 Scottish Broadband Voucher Scheme. 

To mark the delivery milestone, Wellbeing Economy Secretary Mairi McAllan visited Highland Fling Bungee in Perthshire, a small business that has benefitted from the R100 contracts.

She said: “Fast and reliable broadband has never been so important: it is an increasingly vital tool for everything from work and leisure, healthcare and education. As illustrated by Highland Fling Bungee, it is also unlocking new ways for businesses to innovate and thrive.

“This is precisely why the Scottish Government has prioritised investment in digital connectivity in the 2024-25 Budget. Indeed, despite telecoms being reserved, we have now committed to investing more than £650 million across the DSSB and R100 programmes, recognising that faster broadband is a key building block for a green and growing economy.  

“Enabling more than one million connections to faster broadband is a landmark achievement in delivering this vision, and we are fully committed to ensuring as many people as possible can benefit from the advantages of future-proofed digital infrastructure to run businesses and services across the country.

Laurie Thomas, Operations Manager at Highland Fling Bungee in Killiecrankie said: “Full Fibre broadband connection has benefited all aspects of our business. It has had huge positive impacts for our marketing and operations so that now we can livestream jumps and send edited videos of customer jumps in around a day, as well as helping our social media.

“This has made a significant difference to how we can engage and respond to customers, which has been game-changing for our business.” 

Chief Engineer for lead delivery partner Openreach Scotland Fraser Rowberry said: “Scotland’s digital journey is a story of resilience and progress. From adapting to remote work and learning during the pandemic to expanding ultrafast internet access, we’ve come a long way.

“Today’s milestone marks a massive engineering success, connecting people and businesses from Shetland to Stranraer, and we’re proud of the part we’ve played through our work with the Scottish Government. 

“Change on this scale, reaching even the most rural areas, is a testament to teamwork and determination. Let’s celebrate our achievements as we keep reaching for better connectivity across Scotland.” 

UK Digital Infrastructure Minister Julia Lopez said: “It’s fantastic to see that so many will benefit from the one million connections we’ve worked with the Scottish Government to fund and deliver.

“All these communities, who were previously stuck with snail’s pace internet, now have the speeds available to stream, work and play.

“In addition to the rollout of Superfast connections, we now want to ensure Scottish communities have the connectivity they need for the decades to come.

“This is why we are planning further investment in contracts to bring much faster full fibre broadband to hard-to-reach premises right across Scotland – futureproofing rural communities by empowering homes and businesses to seize the benefits of digital technology.”

BT secures contract worth up to £350 million to enhance and futureproof Scotland’s public sector connectivity

BT has secured a multi-million pound contract worth up to £350 million over the next six years to become the sole provider to deliver public sector connectivity across Scotland.

The Scottish Wide Area Network (SWAN) contract, which has been awarded by NHS National Services Scotland (NSS) on behalf of the Scottish Government, will accelerate the digital transformation of Scotland’s public sector including to some of the most rural areas across the country.

The contract will allow for better communication, data sharing and collaboration across more than 6,000 sites, including 94 public sector organisations. Schools, hospitals, GP surgeries, pharmacies, every NHS Board and local government offices will benefit from significantly faster and improved fibre broadband and mobile connections and resilience.

BT’s investment in future-proofing its infrastructure will accelerate fibre and mobile connectivity to some of the most remote parts of Scotland, helping to deliver on the digital ambitions of the Scottish Government.

As well as bridging the gap between urban and rural areas, benefits for the public are likely to include time saving with patients, for example, being able to be seen remotely by clinicians rather than having to travel long distances across islands.

With 22 NHS Scotland boards, 278 general and community hospitals and more than 900 GP practices set to be connected to the network, BT’s investment in SWAN will support essential public health services, reducing costs and increasing the efficiency of connected organisations.

Cabinet Secretary for NHS Recovery, Health and Social Care, Michael Matheson said: “This major investment from the Scottish Government, and our public sector partners, will make sure that staff across our public services have access to rapid and reliable connections with a greater capacity and bandwidth.

“The SWAN programme will drive benefits for communities across Scotland, making sure that no one is left behind and can access the benefits of technology.”

BT Group employs around 7,000 colleagues in Scotland who live and work in nearly every community in the country. Relying on the use of public services themselves ensures these colleagues are committed to making these services the best that they can be for their own communities.

Alan Lees, Director for Business, BT in Scotland, said: “BT is committed to playing its part in helping to shape and to deliver transformational public sector services for people across Scotland now and into the future.

“BT is proud to become the sole provider of next generation connectivity services to the Scottish public sector via the SWAN Framework. We strongly believe in the difference that highly resilient and secure connectivity can make to the delivery of public services in Scotland and with our expertise and investment we can accelerate the digital transformation of services to the public.

“This contract will see us deliver a cost effective and innovative communications framework, which will benefit public sector employees, citizens and services in ways that we have not seen before.

“We have access to the largest next generation networks. Our mobile network EE was the first to launch 5G in Scotland and EE now has by far the highest levels of 4G coverage across Scotland’s landmass at 75%, which is 8% higher than our nearest competitor.

“We’re able to help the public sector to do things that they never imagined possible before, supporting our shared ambition of ‘Connecting Scotland for Good.’”

Mary Morgan, Chief Executive of NHS National Services Scotland (NSS), said: “This is a significant milestone for NSS, and for the many partner organisations across the public sector who depend upon SWAN, including NHS Scotland.

“Swift and secure connectivity is at the heart of modern future-facing public services. Robust digital infrastructure is key to successful innovation and service improvements that will benefit citizens, families and communities.

“We are pleased to have secured this long-term partnership with BT in Scotland. NSS will continue to manage the SWAN Network effectively on behalf of its members so that together we can deliver for all citizens and stakeholders.”

Building Back Better: Move to boost transport connections across the UK

  • Prime Minister sets out vision to boost connectivity across the UK, with improved transport infrastructure at the heart of Government’s levelling up agenda
  • Consultation to launch this Spring on reforming Air Passenger Duty tax in further step to boost transport connecting the whole of the UK, whilst we explore new requirements to offset emissions and in parallel continue to decarbonise aviation
  • Sir Peter Hendy’s interim report into transport connectivity outlines potential for a UK Strategic Transport Network, with £20m committed to develop plans

Prime Minister Boris Johnson today (Wednesday 10 March) sets out his vision to ‘build back better’ from coronavirus by boosting transport connectivity across and between the whole of the UK, as part of ambitions to truly level up across the country.

The UK Government will also consult on cutting air passenger duty on internal UK flights, and will commit £20m to develop plans for upgraded rail, road, sea and air links. 

The measures were announced following the interim report of Sir Peter Hendy’s Union Connectivity Review, published today. In June, Sir Peter Hendy CBE was tasked by the Prime Minister with exploring ways in which transport can better connect all parts of the United Kingdom.

Sir Peter Hendy’s report sets out how a UK Strategic Transport Network would help deliver this ambition.

Such a network would significantly expand and upgrade direct transport connections in the UK across road, rail, sea and air, helping to reduce delays and bottlenecks and stimulate economic growth.

Improving rail links helps cut carbon emissions, and so as well as considering how transport links can better connect the UK, the Prime Minister will consider their environmental and social impact – taking into account how they will improve the quality of life of the people that use them.

The potential network will now form the main focus of Sir Peter’s continuing investigations, with his final report in the summer looking to identify specific transport upgrades that could form the backbone of the network’s ambitions. 

To jump-start some of the projects identified by Sir Peter, the Government has today committed £20m towards exploring the development of projects, such as: 

  • Improved rail connectivity between the North coast of Wales and England
  • Upgrading the A75 between Gretna, Dumfries and Stranraer, a key route for south-west Scotland and Northern Ireland but almost entirely single-carriageway. 
  • Significantly faster rail links from England to Scotland, including looking at options to enhance the West Coast Mainline
  • Rail improvements in South-East Wales building on ideas from the Welsh Government’s Burns Commission

The Government is also announcing that the consultation on aviation tax reform, announced at Budget 2020, will be published in Spring 2021.

The consultation will include options to change the APD treatment for domestic flights, such as reintroducing a return leg exemption or creation of a new lower domestic rate.

In addition to looking at the case for increasing the number of international distance bands, the UK will continue to decarbonise domestic aviation as part of their ambition to reach net zero, including through mandating the use of sustainable aviation fuels. All domestic aviation emissions are captured in carbon budgets.

Prime Minister Boris Johnson, said: “It’s now time to build back better in a way which brings every corner of the UK closer together. We will harness the incredible power of infrastructure to level up parts of our country that have too long been left off the transport map.

“This pioneering review by Sir Peter Hendy gives us the tools we need to deliver on our ambitions for a UK-wide transport network that encompasses sea, rail, and road – and I also want to cut passenger duty on domestic flights so we can support connectivity across the country.”

Transport Secretary Grant Shapps said: “As we build back better from Covid it is more important than ever that we level-up every corner of our great country.  

“Quality transport infrastructure is key to achieving that, which is why we are committed to boosting connectivity and bringing communities across the UK even closer together.” 

The UK Government will work closely with relevant devolved administrations on development studies. For example, the UK government will work closely with the Scottish Government on any feasibility study on the A75.

Sir Peter has spoken with over a hundred organisations and received nearly 150 submissions to his call for evidence. As a result, he has been able to identify some of the most pressing issues for connecting all parts of the UK. 

Sir Peter Hendy CBE said: “Devolution has been good for transport but it has also led to a lack of attention to connectivity between the four nations, due to competing priorities and complex funding.

“A UK Strategic Transport Network could resolve this, with its core objective centred around levelling up across the whole of the UK.”

The Government will receive the final UCR recommendations ahead of the Spending Review, where it will consider and confirm funding plans for delivering improved connectivity across the UK.

The review into boosting the transport options connecting the UK sits squarely at the centre of the Government’s levelling up agenda, with focus on providing high-quality transport infrastructure to communities that have been passed over for investment in previous decades a key pillar of the plans. 

While the review looks to the future, the UK Government continues to support current Union connectivity measures and recently provided a further £4.3 million to fund a two-year extension to the vital flight route between City of Derry Airport and London Stansted, beginning on 1 April, which will boost local economies on both sides. 

The Scotish Government has accused the UK Government of undermining devolution as transport falls under Holyrood’s remit.

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