Digital connectivity
The UK Government is improving digital connectivity to homes, businesses and public buildings across Scotland.
Why improve digital connectivity?
Improvements to digital connectivity give people the freedom to work more flexibly and develop thriving digital businesses.
Superfast broadband and gigabit-capable broadband connections enable faster internet download and upload speeds. This enables more people to use digital tools, like cloud computing and remote working. A gigabit-capable broadband connection can download an HD movie in under a minute.
How is the UK Government improving digital connectivity in Scotland?
The UK Government has now invested £49.5 million into the Digital Scotland Reaching 100% (R100) programme. This is delivering improved connectivity to over 114,000 premises.
In addition, the Local Full Fibre Network and the Rural Gigabit Connectivity programmes have together brought gigabit connections to over 500 public buildings in Scotland, including schools, health centres and fire stations.
Project Gigabit
Project Gigabit is the UK Government’s £5 billion programme to enable hard-to-reach communities to access gigabit-capable broadband.
Gigabit Broadband Voucher Scheme
The Gigabit Broadband Voucher Scheme (GBVS) is a UK-wide scheme which is part of Project Gigabit. The scheme offers vouchers to pay towards the cost of installing gigabit-capable broadband in rural areas.
So far 3,300 vouchers have been connected in Scotland, worth £7.4 million.
The vouchers are worth up to £4,500 for homes and small and medium sized businesses.
You can use an address checker on the GBVS website to check if your address is eligible and find registered suppliers in your area who can guide you through the application.
The Scottish Government also offers the Scottish Broadband Voucher Scheme, worth up to £5,000, to help deliver a permanent broadband connection to properties where there is no roll-out of superfast broadband planned.
The UK and Scottish governments’ voucher schemes can combine in some instances. This means homes and businesses in the hardest-to-reach areas of Scotland may be able to access up to £9,500 to get connected.
More information
Find out more about UK Government support for households and businesses in Scotland.
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Explore how the UK Government is Levelling Up across Scotland.