Broadband News

Scottish government reveals plans to boost broadband

Thursday 2 February, 2012

By Duncan Heaney

Broadband internet could be up to five times faster..

The Scottish government has unveiled its strategy to strengthen digital communication across the country. If all goes according to plan, broadband speeds in Scotland could rocket up – in some areas it could be five times faster.

The Infrastructure Action Plan, which was recently unveiled by Infrastructure Secretary Alex Neil, was created to achieve a step forward in broadband speeds and mobile coverage in Scotland by 2015, and to directly tackle the inequality in broadband quality across different areas. The hope is that Scotland will have “world class digital access” by 2015.

The current average broadband speed in the UK is 7.6Mb. By 2015, the Scottish government wants to increase speeds to between 40Mb and 80Mb for 85% to 90% of premises. In addition, it pledged an “uplift in services” for the remaining citizens.

The plans also aim to extend mobile coverage across Scotland, so that people have access to a mobile phone signal wherever in the country they may be.

Ministers have found £185 million of public money to fund their plans, and hope to get more financial support from the private sector. In addition, a £5million seed fund will be established in April to support local projects and innovations that could potentially be extended across Scotland.

Annie McGovern, a digital expert for consumer group Consumer Focus Scotland, welcomed the plans, assuming the targets were met.

She said: “These commitments by the Scottish government will, if they are delivered, ensure that by 2015, broadband speeds are at least five times faster, more action is taken to better connect our remote and rural communities and that Scotland can be at the forefront of embracing new technology.”

However, not everyone is convinced the plans will be successful. Scottish Labour’s infrastructure spokesman, Richard Baker, said that while extending Scotland’s digital infrastructure was important, the Infrastructure Action Plan did not state how this would be achieved.

Photo by photosteve101