The rollout of gigabit broadband in the UK has faced a major challenge: the concern that networks focus mainly on large cities. But that’s changing. Openreach has invested over £435 million in full-fibre connections across the UK, allowing 1.45 million properties to upgrade. Their latest report reveals half of Scottish homes and businesses, even those in the most remote areas, can now connect to gigabit broadband.
In October 2023, Openreach announced it reached over a million homes and businesses, prioritizing smaller communities. By the end of 2024, they’ll begin building a full-fibre network on Iona as part of the Scottish government’s Reaching 100% programme, which has already seen more than £600 million of taxpayer investment.
Openreach noted that about 30% of the new fibre network is in rural areas, with 100,000 of the hardest-to-reach properties upgraded through partnerships with the Scottish government and the public sector. Communities like Tiree, Iona, and Mull are among the latest beneficiaries of this rollout.
Now, the new fibre network serves over 64,000 Scottish businesses, 1,500 educational institutions, 900 healthcare facilities, 590 care homes, 1,400 community halls, and 160 emergency services locations. Work continues in cities and towns such as Inverness, Perth, Helensburgh, Gourock, and Castle Douglas, with commercial builds scheduled for Lerwick, Kirkwall, and Stornoway in 2025.
The impact of this fibre rollout is significant. Research from the Centre for Economics and Business Research suggests it could add £4.38 billion to the Scottish economy by 2029, attracting nearly 27,400 new residents, mainly in low-density areas, and increasing the number of home-based workers by about 17,800.
Scottish government minister Richard Lochhead called this a pivotal achievement in providing faster, more dependable broadband. He emphasized that in today’s world, reliable internet accesses is essential for individuals and businesses alike. Lochhead reassured that public investment will continue alongside commercial efforts, with a focus on rural and island communities.
Katie Milligan, Openreach’s chief commercial officer, pointed out that swift, reliable connectivity benefits every part of Scotland. It promotes economic growth and helps spread economic activity to less populated regions. She considers this one of the most crucial infrastructure upgrades of the century, paving the way for job creation, remote work, digital education, and improved healthcare access.