Perth and Kinross broadband queries: FOI release

Information requested

1. Can you please provide an update on the progress of the roll-out of full-fibre broadband in Perth and Kinross? Recent figures produced by ONS show that there is only 51.4% digital connectivity in the area, which was lower than the average in Scotland.

2. Can you please provide data on the percentage of homes and businesses in Perth and Kinross that now have digital connectivity through the Scottish Government’s R100 broadband scheme, and also, what areas of the county are still to receive it?

Response

• Can you please provide an update on the progress of the roll-out of full-fibre broadband in Perth and Kinross? Recent figures produced by ONS show that there is only 51.4% digital connectivity in the area, which was lower than the average in Scotland.

Information on the availability of full-fibre broadband is produced by Ofcom and reported on their website. More information can be found through Ofcom’s interactive Connected Nations report at https://www.ofcom.org.uk/phones-and-broadband/coverage-and-speeds/connected-nations-interactivereport- 2025.

The Scottish Government’s Reaching 100% (R100) programme aimed to extend access to superfast broadband to all homes and business in Scotland. While the vast majority of R100 contract build is full fibre, the Scottish Government does not have a commitment to deliver 100% full fibre coverage.

Through a combination of the three strands of activity that comprise the R100 programme – the £600 million R100 contracts, the R100 Scottish Broadband Voucher Scheme (R100 SBVS) and continued expansion of commercial coverage, including emerging technologies such as Low Earth Orbit satellite connectivity – all homes and business across Scotland can access, at minimum, a superfast broadband service.

Information regarding the number of connections delivered so far through the R100 contracts and R100 Scottish Broadband Voucher Scheme can be found on our website. This information is provided at R100 contract, local authority and Scottish Parliamentary Constituency level: https://digitalconnectivity.campaign.gov.scot/data-insights.

Of course, commercial suppliers also continue to extent full-fibre coverage. The Scottish Government do not hold figures on commercial full fibre coverage.

• Can you please provide data on the percentage of homes and businesses in Perth and Kinross that now have digital connectivity through the Scottish Government’s R100 broadband scheme, and also, what areas of the county are still to receive it?

Information regarding the number of connections delivered so far through the R100 contracts and R100 Scottish Broadband Voucher Scheme can be found on our website. This information is provided at R100 contract, local authority and Scottish Parliamentary Constituency level. https://digitalconnectivity.campaign.gov.scot/data-insights.

Our R100 SBVS also remains available to eligible premises not expected to benefit from R100 contract or commercial build, offering a voucher worth up to £5,000 with which to secure, as a minimum, a superfast broadband connection. As a demand-led scheme, it is not possible to provide the number of properties remaining to be connected through utilisation of vouchers.

Members of the public are encouraged to check R100 and gigabit plans on our address checker at https://broadbandchecker.service.gov.scot/. This online address checker shows the most up-to-date connectivity position for all homes and businesses across the country.

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.