News / Call for better broadband
SHETLAND MSP Tavish Scott has welcomed assurances from the Scottish government that more money could be spent on quickening the roll-out of “superfast” broadband in rural areas.
BT and Highlands and Islands Enterprise are in the process of providing communities across Scotland with high-speed internet as part of a £146 million project.
While 95 per cent of premises in the country as a whole are expected to be connected by 2018, this figure falls to 84 percent in the Highlands and Islands area and drops to just 77per cent in Shetland.
Scott led a debate in the Scottish Parliament in Edinburgh earlier this week to call on the Scottish Government to “prioritise investment” in areas with poor connectivity.
He also raised the issue of mobile “not-spots” in many areas of Shetland where no mobile signal is available.
Deputy first minister John Swinney confirmed that he would look at increasing funding for the broadband project if he felt its budget wasn’t stretching far enough.
“I reassure parliament that if I feel that demand outstrips the resources currently allocated, I will attach priority to finding new resources to add to those to ensure that we are able to roll out broadband to a broader range of communities than is currently envisaged under this process,” he said.
Swinney added that the Scottish Government was in favour of 4G connectivity being included in the UK-wide emergency services communications programme.
Speaking after the debate, Scott said that Shetland’s current average internet speed is “not good enough”.
“The deputy first minister recently said that superfast broadband was available to homes ‘as far north as Lerwick’, failing to recognise the communities in the northern part of Shetland who still have no idea when they will be able to benefit from better broadband.
“Mobile phone coverage also remains a serious concern. Last year, residents were not able to make even emergency calls as a result of problems with the transmitter.
“I welcome the deputy first minister’s comments on 4G provision for emergency services but I will continue to press for improvements for everyone in Shetland.”
Highlands and Islands Labour MSP Rhoda Grant, meanwhile, said that access to high speed internet is vital for everyone in today’s society, from students to crofters.
“We need to utilise all the technologies to ensure 100 per cent coverage,” she said.
“Access to next generation broadband is no longer a luxury; it is essential. People need it to submit their common agricultural policy forms and to apply for benefits.”
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