(c) PA
Arguing that rural and remote Scotland has the greatest need for it, the Scottish Government plans to spend £600 million to achieve 100% connectivity in these areas by 2021. In unconnected urban areas, they plan to work ‘with the private sector to encourage their own investment rather than rely on public funds.’
From Connectivity Secretary Fergus Ewing:
‘We have taken the decision not to focus on urban city centre premises in this first phase, but to target investment where it is needed most – in rural and remote Scotland. We are working with the private sector to encourage their own investment in unconnected urban areas, rather than rely on public funds. To deliver our ambition, this government is investing £600 million through the Reaching 100% programme – more than any government in the UK has ever invested in broadband.’
Here’s the breakdown of the public funding spend:
| Lot | Areas | Allocated Funding (£m) |
| North | Highlands & Islands, Aberdeen, Dundee and Angus | 384 |
| Central | Central Scotland & Fife | 83 |
| South | South of Scotland | 133 |
| TOTAL | 600 |
https://news.gov.scot/news/superfast-broadband-rollout-to-benefit-rural-areas
Talking-up Scotland 
Headline should read £600M, John
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I need a second member of staff and the cat’s no good at this kind of thing
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I suspect we have the same “problem”
If I mistype something, when I reread immediately I read what I thought I had typed. Had it since Uni and when doing essays. lab reports etc I had to put the original away in a drawer for a couple of days. After that I could spot all errors.
T’Internet and especiallyTwitter doesn’t allow for that.
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This is a sensible investment that will connect businesses to world markets in the areas most requiring this service benefiting the wider economy.
Unfortunately BT seems to have a virtual monopoly on landlines and in my personal experience their services leave a lot to be desired but things may change.
The ongoing efforts led by Richard Lochhead to contain the opportunist delivery services must also be successful to allow improved internet connection to maximize benefits.
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I should have added that the “Aberdeen Suppress and Spinall”reports today that Scotland pays £36 million in extra delivery charges annually so that expanding fast broadband and curtailing delivery charges should be a boost for the Scottish rural economy.
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In the Cumnock Chronicle of a week or two ago, Fluffy Mundell was reported as whining about the speed of broadband roll out in Scotland not being as good as down south.
He came up with a fiver (or some such) from Englandshire to help us out.
Does Fluffy attend any Cabinet meetings these days–he never seems to have ANY comment on “issues of importance to…….. “? Or does he just stay home to wash his beard?
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Cumnock Chronicle – are we nearly neighbours?
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It should be noted that broadband is mainly reserved to Westminster, but the truth never stands in the way of the Secretary of State blaming the SG.
Prioritising rural areas is an excellent idea by the SG. It is the kind of thing which facilitates rural businesses competing on more level terms with businesses in more heavily populated areas.
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