Scottish Government R100 scheme fibre optic broadband Isle of Colonsay: FOI release

Information requested

The following information:

The fibre cable has been laid to Colonsay under a SG R100 scheme and is due for roll out before 2028 according to Openreach.

1. Can you provide all correspondence between the Scottish Government and Openreach since January 1, 2023, in respect of the fibre provision to Colonsay.
2. All correspondence between the Scottish government and Colonsay landowners in respect of this project since January 1, 2023.
3. Details of the costs involved so far and what the future budget is for completing this scheme.
4. Confirm that the 2028 finish date is correct and say if there are any plans to bring this forward.

Response

1. Can you provide all correspondence between the Scottish Government and Openreach since January 1, 2023, in respect of the fibre provision to Colonsay.

Please find attached documentation regarding correspondence between the Scottish Government and Openreach since January 1, 2023, in respect of the fibre provision to Colonsay:

Attachment 1.
Attachment 2.
Attachment 3.

The aforementioned documents contain redactions. The reasoning behind applying the redactions is noted within the documents.

2. All correspondence between the Scottish Government and Colonsay landowners in respect of this project since January 1, 2023.

While our aim is to provide information whenever possible, in this instance the Scottish Government does not have the information you have requested. This is because the Scottish Government does not hold details of any correspondence from Colonsay landowners in respect of the R100 programme since January 1, 2023.

This is a formal notice under section 17(1) of FOISA that the Scottish Government does not have the information you have requested.

3. Details of the costs involved so far and what the future budget is for completing this scheme.

While our aim is to provide information whenever possible, in this instance the Scottish Government does not have the information you have requested. This is because the Scottish Government does not hold information regarding the cost of delivering connectivity to individual communities, in this case Colonsay, through the R100 contracts. Costs for delivery of the R100 contracts are collected at contractual level and it is not possible to break that figure down for Colonsay only.

With regards to the “future budget for completing the scheme”, while our aim is to provide information whenever possible, in this instance the Scottish Government does not hold data relating to the future budget for completing R100 contract build on Colonsay.

This is a formal notice under section 17(1) of FOISA that the Scottish Government does not have the information you have requested.

4. Confirm that the 2028 finish date is correct and say if there are any plans to bring this forward.

R100 contract build is being deployed by our delivery partner, Openreach. They are delivering build as per the plans submitted by BT plc, as part of their bid during the R100 procurement process. It is being delivered in a series of phases that have been designed to maximise efficiency and support wider network configuration, and we have not sought to intervene in those plans.

The R100 North contract, which covers Colonsay, is currently expected to conclude in 2028.

About FOI

The Scottish Government is committed to publishing all information released in response to Freedom of Information requests. View all FOI responses at https://www.gov.scot/foi-responses.

FOI 202500490628 - Information Released - Annex

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