R100 Interim Evaluation
This report details findings of the R100 Programme Interim Evaluation, informed by the best practice set out in the Digital Appraisal Manual for Scotland (DAMS): https://www.gov.scot/publications/digital-appraisal-manual-for-scotland-guidance/
Footnotes
1 Digital appraisal manual for Scotland: guidance - gov.scot (www.gov.scot)
2 In total, 986 responses were received to the survey. However, 45 of these were duplicate responses (i.e. more than one response was received from a single property). Given that the survey records use of the internet by the household as a whole, where more than one response from a property was received, the response provided by the eldest household member was retained and any further responses from the same household were removed from the analysis.
4 As set out in Chapter, according to Ofcom’s 2023 Connected Nations Report, nearly all residential properties and 97% of commercial properties in Scotland’s urban areas are able to access superfast broadband compared to just 89% and 97% of residential and commercial properties respectively in Scotland’s rural locations – see https://www.ofcom.org.uk/research-and-data/multi-sector-research/infrastructure-research/connected-nations-2023/interactive-report; accessed February 2024
5 The remaining 3% are located in accessible small towns (2%), remote small towns (1%) or very remote small towns (1%)
6 https://digitalconnectivity.campaign.gov.scot/data-insights
7 https://digitalconnectivity.campaign.gov.scot/data-insights
8 Digital appraisal manual for Scotland: guidance - gov.scot (www.gov.scot)
9 ADSL: Asymmetric Digital Subscriber Line
10 www.Starlink.com
11 There is no standard definition of broadband speeds and types with different sources adopting slightly different definitions. This table is sourced from What Broadband Speed Do I Need? - Which? It is noted that Ofcom define ‘decent’ broadband as a minimum download speed of 10mbps and the European Commission define Superfast broadband as 30 Mbps.
12 Connected Nations 2023 Interactive Report, Interactive report 2023 - Ofcom
13 https://www.ofcom.org.uk/research-and-data/multi-sector-research/infrastructure-research/connected-nations-2023/interactive-report ; accessed February 2024
14 Connected Nations 2021: Scotland report (ofcom.org.uk); accessed April 2022
15 A changing nation: how Scotland will thrive in a digital world - gov.scot (www.gov.scot)
16 Source of image: https://www.scotlandsuperfast.com/r100-programme/about-r100/)
17 At the point of delivery, 24Mbps was defined as ‘Superfast’ broadband. Since, the EU has defined 30Mbps as ‘Superfast’.
18 dssb_understanding_fibre_broadband_speeds_2020_update_v4.pdf (scotlandsuperfast.com)
19 https://www.gov.uk/guidance/a-councillors-guide-to-project-gigabit
20 18-049091-01_LFFN_Wave_1_final_evaluation_technical_annex.pdf (publishing.service.gov.uk)
22 Gigabit Broadband Voucher Scheme information - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk)
23 BDUK_Rural_Gigabit_Connectivity_Hubs_Evaluation.pdf (publishing.service.gov.uk)
24 Project Gigabit progress update – November 2024 - GOV.UK
26 Superfast Broadband Programme - State Aid evaluation report 2023, 21-087286-01_Superfast_State_Aid_Evaluation_-_Main_State_Aid_Report_-_FINAL_VERSION_RedactedV2.pdf (publishing.service.gov.uk)
27 Overall, turnover per worker increased by 0.42% and 0.17% if only those firms that had not relocated were considered. See Superfast Broadband Programme - State Aid evaluation report 2023, 21-087286-01_Superfast_State_Aid_Evaluation_-_Main_State_Aid_Report_-_FINAL_VERSION_RedactedV2.pdf (publishing.service.gov.uk)
28 Superfast Broadband Programme - State Aid evaluation report 2023, 21-087286-01_Superfast_State_Aid_Evaluation_-_Main_State_Aid_Report_-_FINAL_VERSION_RedactedV2.pdf (publishing.service.gov.uk)
29
30 https://ec.europa.eu/info/strategy/priorities-2019-2024/new-push-european-democracy/long-term-vision-rural-areas/eu-rural-areas-numbers_en
31 Improving broadband for Very Hard to Reach Premises: Government response - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk)
32 For example, video healthcare consultations, or online repeat prescription services
33 For example, the majority of UK social security benefits, including Universal Credit (UC), are primarily applied for and managed online.
34 A changing nation: how Scotland will thrive in a digital world, 2021, A changing nation: how Scotland will thrive in a digital world - gov.scot (www.gov.scot)
36 A quality adjusted life year (QALY) is a metric which measures the healthy years lived by an individual
37 2018_provision_marketstudy_telemedicine_en_0.pdf (europa.eu)
38 Deloitte: The Economic and Social Impacts of Enhanced Digitalisation in Scotland (2015); Evaluation of the Attend Anywhere / Near Me video consulting service in Scotland, 2019-2 (www.gov.scot)
39 Connecting gigabit communities: Revisiting rural schools. April 2024, Connecting gigabit communities: Revisiting rural schools - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk)
40 BDUK_Rural_Gigabit_Connectivity_Hubs_Evaluation.pdf (publishing.service.gov.uk)
41 SlidePack_HubsSchoolSurvey_20231212_Accessible__1_.pdf (publishing.service.gov.uk)
42 SlidePack_HubsSchoolSurvey_20231212_Accessible__1_.pdf (publishing.service.gov.uk)
44 Improving broadband for Very Hard to Reach Premises: Government response - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk)
45 https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/807830/No_Longer_Optional_Employer_Demand_for_Digital_Skills.pdf
47 Statistics on access to cash, bank branches, and ATMs, House of Commons Library, 2022, https://researchbriefings.files.parliament.uk/documents/CBP-8570/CBP-8570.pdf
48 Deloitte: The Economic and Social Impacts of Enhanced Digitalisation in Scotland (2015)
49 Community resilience can be understood as the cohesion and strength of a community
51 Adults' media use and attitudes 2024: interactive report - Ofcom
52 Superfast Broadband Programme Evaluation: Key Benefits and Impacts, 2020 https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/958225/DCMS_Superfast_Findings_Briefing_v1.pdf#:~:text=The%20Evaluation%20of%20the%20Superfast%20Broadband%20Programme%20is,Government%E2%80%99s%20investment%20in%20improved%20digital%20infrastructure%20through%20BDUK.
53 Evaluation of the Economic Impact and Public Value of the Superfast Broadband Programme, 2018 Report https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/734855/Superfast_Integrated_Report.pdf
54 Improving broadband for Very Hard to Reach Premises: Government response - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk)
55 Superfast Broadband Programme – State aid Evaluation Report (publishing.service.gov.uk), 2020
56 Blackpool - connectivity and tourism case study - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk)
57 Superfast Broadband Programme – State aid Evaluation Report (publishing.service.gov.uk), 2020
58 Skerratt, S., (2010) “Hot Spots and Not Spots: Addressing Infrastructure and Service Provision through Combined Approaches in Rural Scotland2, Sustainability, 2, 1719–1741.
59 Superfast Broadband Programme – State aid Evaluation Report (publishing.service.gov.uk), 2020.
60 Superfast Broadband Programme - State Aid evaluation report 2023, 21-087286-01_Superfast_State_Aid_Evaluation_-_Main_State_Aid_Report_-_FINAL_VERSION_RedactedV2.pdf (publishing.service.gov.uk)
61 Superfast Broadband Programme - State Aid evaluation report 2023, 21-087286-01_Superfast_State_Aid_Evaluation_-_Main_State_Aid_Report_-_FINAL_VERSION_RedactedV2.pdf (publishing.service.gov.uk)
62 https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/blackpool-connectivity-and-tourism-a-lffn-case-study/blackpool-connectivity-and-tourism-case-study
63 Superfast Broadband Programme – State aid Evaluation Report (publishing.service.gov.uk), 2020
64 Homeworking Report: An assessment of the impact of teleworking on carbon savings and the longer-term effects on infrastructure services, Carbon Trust, 2021, https://www.vodafone-institut.de/wp-content/uploads/2021/06/CT_Homeworking-report-June-2021.pdf
67 Impacts of the digital transformation on the environment and sustainability, R. Liu et al, 2019, https://ec.europa.eu/environment/enveco/resource_efficiency/pdf/studies/issue_paper_digital_transformation_20191220_final.pdf
68 Advanced Technologies for Industry – At Watch, Technology Focus on Clous Computing, December 2020, AT Watch Cloud.pdf (europa.eu)
69 Wellbeing_guidance_for_appraisal_-_supplementary_Green_Book_guidance.pdf (publishing.service.gov.uk)
71 231122-lloyds-consumer-digital-index-2023-report.pdf (lloydsbank.com)
72 19% of over 65s did not have the internet at home and 12% of those in ONS Social Grade DE (Semi-skilled & unskilled manual occupations, Unemployed and lowest grade occupations) compared to 1% in ONS Social Grade AB (Higher & intermediate managerial, administrative, professional occupations)
73 The ONS* definition of ‘online’ is having engaged with the Internet in the last three months. This remains the current industry definition
74 It is noted that due to the different timeframes of the R100 contracts (see section 2.5), the time period over which beneficiaries have experienced the improved connectivity differs by geography with those benefitting from the programme who are based in the Central and South lots generally having experienced the improved connectivity for a longer period of time than those based in the North lot.
75 Internet access - households and individuals - Office for National Statistics (ons.gov.uk)
76 See Scottish 4G Infill Programme Evaluation - gov.scot
77 In total, 986 responses were received to the survey. However, 45 of these were duplicate responses (i.e. more than one response was received from a single property). Given that the survey records use of the internet by the household as a whole, where more than one response from a property was received, the response provided by the eldest household member was retained and any further responses from the same household were removed from the analysis.
78 For the residential sample as a whole, we have 95% confidence level with 3.32% margin of error. However, this is complicated by the different groups, with higher confidence for Group 1 (the main element of the research) and Group 3 and lower confidence in the results from Group 2 given the smaller sample size relative to the total population for this group.
79 It is noted that between the time of completing the survey and taking part in the focus group, some individuals switched groups as follows: One original Group 2 attendee signed up to broadband and therefore switched from Group 2 to Group 1 (focus group 4) and two original Group 3 attendees received access to the R100 programme and therefore switched from Group 3 to Group 1 (focus groups 1 and 3). As such, these focus groups contained attendees from multiple groups.
80 One resident was no longer able to attend their allocated focus group and therefore a one-to-one interview was delivered with this individual instead.
81 Generally, businesses are less likely to take part in research as unlike the general public there is a direct cost associated with their involvement.
82 While some options were asked of those eligible for the voucher and the main contracts, some options (‘applying for a voucher is too complicated’ and ‘concerned that the SBVS is a scam’) were only asked to those eligible for the voucher and therefore the sample size for these options is smaller.
84 These four aspects are well established in the literature and are often referred to as the Office for National Statistics four aspects of personal wellbeing or the ONS4
85 https://www.ons.gov.uk/peoplepopulationandcommunity/wellbeing/methodologies/personalwellbeingintheukqmi
87 As set out in Chapter, according to Ofcom’s 2023 Connected Nations Report, nearly all residential properties and 97% of commercial properties in Scotland’s urban areas are able to access superfast broadband compared to just 89% and 97% of residential and commercial properties respectively in Scotland’s rural locations – see https://www.ofcom.org.uk/research-and-data/multi-sector-research/infrastructure-research/connected-nations-2023/interactive-report; accessed February 2024
88 The remaining 3% are located in accessible small towns (2%), remote small towns (1%) or very remote small towns (1%)
89 https://www.gov.scot/publications/programme-government-2025-26/
90 https://ec.europa.eu/info/strategy/priorities-2019-2024/new-push-european-democracy/long-term-vision-rural-areas/eu-rural-areas-numbers_en
Contact
Email: sean.murchie@gov.scot