£32 million of additional UK Government funding for superfast broadband in Scotland
The Government has today announced that it is making available a further £32 million of funding to ensure that Scotland is on track with its plans to deliver superfast broadband.
The UK Government has announced that it is making available a further £32 million of funding to ensure that Scotland is on track with its plans to deliver superfast broadband.
This funding is in addition to £68.8 million that has already been allocated to Scotland for investment in its broadband network, taking the total to over £100 million.
Chief Secretary to the Treasury, Danny Alexander said:
“In the modern world, where so much business is done online, it is essential that companies across the UK have access to decent internet connection speeds.
“This additional funding will help ensure that Scotland has the broadband infrastructure it needs to support its tech industries, and businesses and education across the country.”
The Secretary of State Michael Moore said:
“Access to superfast broadband means Scottish businesses can expand, develop new markets and compete globally. It also allows local communities to access public services more quickly and efficiently online
“Providing Scotland with high-speed broadband is essential for businesses to grow and to create the new jobs we need. That is why the UK Government believes broadband is essential not only for everyday life, but also for the future economic success of Scotland and the UK.”
This additional funding will allow many more premises across Scotland to be given superfast connections to the broadband network, including in the Highlands and Islands where the infrastructure is currently less developed and the costs of connecting additional premises are much higher than other parts of the UK.
The Government is committed to delivering the best superfast broadband network in Europe by 2015, with 90 per cent of the UK receiving superfast broadband and everyone else to have access to standard broadband with a speed of at least 2Mbps.