Rural speeds still slow

Internet connection speeds remain very slow across much of rural Scotland

Many people in rural areas still experience poor broadband connections, a new report has revealed.

Perth and Kinross is one of the poorest performing council areas in Scotland according to Audit Scotland.

The watchdog’s progress report on broadband provision shows that 20% of premises in Perth and Kinross could not receive speeds of 10Mb/s.

Only seven other council areas, including those in the Highlands and Islands, Argyll and the borders were worse.

Dundee was the best performing area with almost 100% of premises able to reach that benchmark speed, while Angus was around 15% and Fife 5%.

Angus and Perth and Kinross were among the council areas in which fewer than 65% of premises could receive an average speed of more than 24Mb/s, with some areas of Perthshire with speeds as slow as 0.514Mb/s.

The Scottish Government has spent £146 million to roll out broadband for the Highlands and Islands and £266m for the rest of Scotland.

Rural Economy and Connectivity Secretary Fergus Ewing pledged 100% coverage by 2021. “So far, the roll out has concentrated on the easier to reach areas,” the Audit Scotland report states.

“The areas that remain are more remote and likely to need more complicated and costly engineering solutions.”

The review states most projects are currently on track to provide access to 95% of premises by December 2017, although it adds the remainder of the roll-out will be “more challenging”.

Caroline Gardner, Auditor General for Scotland, said: “There is a lot still to be done by the Scottish Government if it is to achieve its vision of a world-class digital infrastructure, particularly in improving download speeds in rural areas.

“It’s important that it continues to monitor the cost and progress of broadband roll-out so that these communities aren’t excluded.”

Mr Ewing said: “We … recognise there is much more we can do at a Scotlandlevel to extend coverage, particularly to rural areas.

“That is why we have made the commitment that 100% of properties across Scotland will be able to access superfast broadband by 2021 and I will outline next steps later this year.”

But Jamie Green, Scottish Conservative connectivity spokesperson, said “there is still a lot of work to do.”

“The remainder of the roll-out seems to be more challenging, complicated and costly, but people deserve realistic, properly-funded and achievable guarantees on when this so-called superfast broadband is coming.” preoch@thecourier.co.uk

There is still a lot to be done by the Scottish Government if it is to achieve its vision of a world-class digital infrastructure, particularly in improving download speeds in rural areas. CAROLINE GARDNER AUDITOR GENERAL

The ability to operate most businesses in the 21st Century relies increasingly on access to high-speed internet provision. Connection to a high-speed network can be the difference between a company’s success and failure.

The ability to engage with customers and suppliers almost instantly across the globe has never been more important.

That vast areas of Scotland, particularly rural regions, cannot do so is unacceptable.

It is not just commercially crucial; the internet reaches into every part of our lives.

People rely on it for their leisure interests, whether browsing the web, playing games or watching television.

What was a luxury a few years ago has become a necessity.

As such, those who do not have it are suffering discrimination based upon their locality.

Why, for example, should those who suffer slow connection pay a full BBC licence fee without access to the complete range of online offerings?

Why should a rurally-based business be asked to compete with urban contemporaries at such a disadvantage?

The Scottish Government’s pledge to provide superfast broadband to 100% of Scottish properties is laudable.

It must be delivered – and not at the current speed of a rural internet connection.