The Reaching 100% (R100) programme: FOI release

Information requested

Information regarding the Reaching 100% (R100) programme Central Lot. 

Response

1) In December 2022, or a representative time point close to it, how many addresses in the Central Scotland lot, as reported using the address checker on http://www.scotlandsuperfast.com, were listed as being in the R100 programme and in scope for receiving a superfast connection at a specified future time based on the current engineering schedules at the time? This information could be defined by, but not limited to, those with an address checker search result along the lines of: "A new superfast connection is being built in your area. It's part of the Scottish Government's Reaching 100% (R100) superfast broadband programme. Based on the current engineering schedule your address is in scope to receive its superfast connection in the first half of 2023."

As at 20 December 2022, a total of 22,426 premises were reported on http://www.scotlandsuperfast.com as being in the R100 Central contract, and in scope to receive a superfast connection at a projected future date based on the engineering schedule at that time. 

2) Of the addresses identified in (1), how many of these were identified as being in scope to receive a superfast connection before the end of 2023?

As at 20 December 2022, of the addresses identified in (1) a total of 20,986 premises in the R100 Central contract were reported on http://www.scotlandsuperfast.com as being in scope to receive a superfast connection which was projected to be before the end of 2023 based on the engineering schedule at that time.

3) Of the addresses identified in (2), how many of these did receive a superfast connection before the end of 2023?

As at 31 December 2023, from the addresses identified in (2) a total of 7,609 premises were reported as being built and capable of accessing a superfast connection or above.

4) Of the addresses identified in (1), by September 2023 how many of these had their planned build delayed, cancelled or rescheduled? For example with the address checker search result changed to something like: "New gigabit-capable connections are being built in your area and your address is in the R100 contract build plan - it's part of the Scottish Government's Reaching 100% (R100) superfast broadband programme. We're currently reviewing our R100 contract build timeline to minimise overlap with the extensive commercial activity that's already underway in Central Scotland. This it to ensure that funding is allocated where it's needed most with the added possibility of extending broadband access to other premises across Central Scotland. We'll provide an update on this when appropriate with the intention of confirming your build schedule in the second half of this year."

As at 30 September 2023, of the premises identified in (1), a total of 16,391 premises showed a message indicating an updated projected build schedule for their address on http://www.scotlandsuperfast.com.

5) Of the addresses identified in (4), how many of them had an updated build schedule confirmed in the second half of 2023?

As at 5 February 2024, of the addresses identified in (4), a total of 709 premises reported an updated build schedule for their address on http://www.scotlandsuperfast.com.

6) Of the addresses identified in (4), how many of them have a current address checker search result, as of March 2024, which states that "We’ll provide an update on this when appropriate with the intention of confirming your build schedule in the coming months."? 

As at 28 February 2024, 10,985 of the premises identified in (4) displayed the above message.

There has been a significant amount of commercial build in Central Scotland since the R100 contracts were awarded in December 2019. As a result, we have been actively reviewing the R100 Central contract to minimise overlap with this commercial activity with a view to potentially extending the reach of the R100 Central contract. This has meant that build in some areas has been paused while build in other areas has been brought forward.

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