R100 hits 100,000 homes — but 700,000 in Scotland still can't get online
The Scottish Government's R100 programme has now delivered faster broadband to over 100,000 homes and businesses. Progress worth noting — and 700,000 people still without any internet access worth noting more.
The R100 Reaching 100% programme has passed a milestone: more than 100,000 homes and businesses in Scotland now have faster broadband connections as a result of the £600 million programme. Independent evaluation reports that three-quarters of businesses connected say their productivity has increased, and nearly two-thirds of households feel more connected.
This is real progress, and it should be acknowledged. R100 is doing something that commercial providers were not willing to do.
But the same period tells a more uncomfortable story: 700,000 people in Scotland still cannot access the internet at all. The programme aims to reach another 113,000 premises by March 2028. That still leaves a substantial portion of Scotland behind.
And connectivity is not only about whether a wire reaches a building. Even where R100 delivers infrastructure, the questions of affordability, device access, digital skills, and language barriers remain unanswered by any current programme. Coverage is necessary. It is not sufficient.
The UK Government has separately announced a £157 million Project Gigabit contract for remote Scottish communities in the Highlands, Outer Hebrides, and islands including Skye, Islay, and Tiree. Again, investment worth welcoming — and investment that should be accompanied by clear, public reporting on who benefits and when.