Superfast or superslow?

THE SCOTTISH islands are set to continue to be the worst performing areas in the UK in relation to access to superfast broadband, according to an industry analyst.

A study carried out by Point Topic suggests that by 2017 next generation access (NGA) broadband will be available to only 50 per cent of households in Shetland.

However, Highlands and Islands Enterprise said that these figures did not reflect the £146 million contract it had entered into with BT to bring NGA to most of the region over the next four years.

The development agency said that 84 per cent across the region should be achieved by 2016, although a precise figure for Shetland was not yet available.

In its research Point Topic said that for the UK government the data was not encouraging as it was lacking behind broadband provision in the other EU member states.

By the end of 2014, 71 per cent of UK premises are expected to have access to a NGA solution, rising to 81 per cent by the end of 2015.

In Orkney only 51 per cent of households would have access to superfast broadband by 2017 with the western isles faring even worse at 43 per cent.

Development manager for telecoms at HIE, Andrea Rutherford said Point Topic’s view was that of only one independent consultant.

“Fewer than 25 per cent of premises in the Highlands and Islands would have benefited from the commercial rollout of superfast broadband, and fibre optic coverage in Shetland was not in the plan.

“The £146m contract we have signed with BT will achieve around 84 per cent across the region by the end of 2016.

“While the exact availability for Shetland will not be finalised until further into the rollout, estimates are that the majority of premises will be able to receive the service if they want it,” she said.