Rural broadband

More than 160,000 homes and businesses in the Highlands and Islands are now part of the high speed fibre broadband network.

Residents in more than 230 towns and villages in the region can access the benefits of high speed services following the £146 million investment in a next generation broadband network for the region.

When added to commercial roll-out, the total number of homes with access to fibre in the region is 205,000 - around 84% of all premises.

Rural broadband roll-out in Highlands and Islands reaching further says HIE

15 June 2017

The Digital Scotland Superfast Broadband contract, being led by Highlands and Islands Enterprise and delivered on the ground by BT Openreach, has passed its original coverage target.

Coverage is expected to reach 86% of premises by April next year.

Cabinet Secretary for the Rural Economy and Connectivity, Fergus Ewing, said: ““The Highlands and Islands project is one of the most challenging broadband infrastructure roll-outs in Europe.

“When it started only 4% of the region’s premises could access next generation broadband.

“Every day roll-out reaches increasingly remote communities and smaller and smaller groups of homes, including locations like the island of Scalpay in the Outer Hebrides, and villages like Lonmore and Roskhill in Skye.”

“The Scottish Government is committed to delivering 100% superfast broadband access across Scotland by 2021 and plans are currently being developed to ensure that this is the case. During the summer months our existing programme will continue to advance across the country, bringing high speed broadband to new rural communities.”

Stuart Robertson, director of digital at HIE, said: “The Highlands and Islands project’s target was to reach just over 155,000 premises. We’re delighted that the project has passed this target and we are going further.”