MP Jamie Stone calls for 'serious progress' on better broadband for Highlands
Register for free to read more of the latest local news. It's easy and will only take a moment.
NORTH MP Jamie Stone has called on the Scottish Government to "make serious progress" in delivering better broadband services after it emerged that the Highlands are worst for connectivity on the Scottish mainland.
Mr Stone said that according to figures provided by the Scottish Government to the rural economy and connectivity committee only 79.9 per cent of homes in the Highland Council area have access to internet speeds of 30Mbps or above. In Edinburgh and Glasgow the figures are 98.6 per cent and 98.7 per cent respectively.
“These figures show that the Scottish Government is failing to recognise the disparities felt across the country when it comes to broadband connectivity," the Caithness, Sutherland and Easter Ross Lib Dem MP said.
“A lack of access to functioning, let alone superfast, broadband in the far north greatly disadvantages Universal Credit claimants, farmers and crofters, and businesses – all of whom desperately need quality online access.
“While the power to bring legislation is reserved to the UK Government, the Scottish Government is responsible for the practical delivery of broadband and these figures show that both the Tories and the SNP are failing my constituents when it comes to connectivity.
“This is simply not good enough. The SNP must get on with the day job and start making serious progress on improving telecommunications infrastructure in the areas that need it most.”
Meanwhile, Highlands and Islands Conservative MSP Edward Mountain is "shocked and dismayed" that the Scottish Government has confirmed that its R100 broadband programme will not deliver for all households and businesses, and he fears that superfast broadband will not come to the Highlands until 2024.
I fear that Highlanders will not access superfast broadband until 2024.
The Scottish Government announced in 2017 that it would deliver superfast broadband to all homes and households by 2021. However, the project has been dogged by delays since then.
BT has been confirmed as the preferred bidder to deliver R100 to south Scotland and central Scotland. A preferred bidder for the north Scotland region has yet to be confirmed by the Scottish Government.
Following the rural economy and connectivity committee session, Mr Mountain said: “I am shocked and dismayed at the Scottish Government’s mishandling of the roll-out of superfast broadband.
"It was made clear by the minister [Paul Wheelhouse] today that the R100 programme will not deliver fibre broadband to every household and business. That means private companies will be expected to plug the gap at their own expense and that could mean there are significant price differences for internet access across the Highlands.
"It’s now almost inevitable the Scottish Government will break their promise of delivering R100 by 2021 and I fear that Highlanders will not access superfast broadband until 2024.
"While southern and central Scotland at least know that BT is the preferred bidder to deliver R100, we are no further forward in the Highlands.
"The Scottish Government’s handling of their R100 programme has been a complete shambles. They have dithered and delayed and as a result too many families and businesses are stuck with little to no internet at all.
"The minister left me with little confidence that delivering superfast broadband would be accelerated any time soon. Frankly, that’s unacceptable. We need superfast broadband for the Highlands as a matter of urgency.”
