R100 Interim Evaluation

1 Introduction

1.1 Overview

1.1.1 Reaching 100% (R100) is a £600m programme which aims to extend ‘superfast’ broadband access at a minimum to 100% of premises across Scotland. The programme is made up of 3 strands:

• R100 contracts being delivered by Openreach
• the R100 Scottish Broadband Voucher Scheme (SBVS) which offers a subsidy of up to £5,000 for premises not covered by R100 contracts or commercial build
• planned commercial investment by a variety of broadband providers

1.1.2 The Investment Objectives for the R100 Programme are as follows:

• Improve business performance in Scotland by facilitating increased productivity, innovation, and access to new markets.
• Improve wellbeing of people across Scotland.
• Reduce the negative impact of the digital divide, through a) addressing regional disparities in provision and b) increased availability amongst groups disproportionately represented in these areas.
• Strengthen communities, including in rural areas, by offering enhanced opportunities to work, trade, and deliver public services, helping to address depopulation.
• Aid the transition to net zero by reducing travel requirements that result from ability to work or engage with others remotely.
• Increase Scotland's capacity to maintain business productivity, activities important for wellbeing, and access to essential services in the face of communication disruption, especially for those rural and island communities.

1.1.1 As of March 2025, the R100 programme had delivered broadband to over 72,000 premises through the R100 contracts and 5,000 properties via the voucher scheme.^[6] In total the main contracts are expected to deliver connections to over 112,000 premises.^[7]

1.1.2 In line with government guidance, this research aims to evaluate the impacts of R100 against its investment objectives, and to comment on the effectiveness and value for money of the scheme. In addition, the evaluation aims to expand the evidence base on broadband use and its benefits to help inform the continued development of the Scottish Government’s Digital Appraisal Manual for Scotland (DAMS).^[8]

1.1.3 This report sets out the approach to and findings from the evaluation. The research is structured around a set of logic maps which identify a range of potential outcomes of R100 and consequential impacts. Primary research, in the form of online surveys and focus groups / one-to-one interviews, with residents and businesses based in the areas affected by R100 are then undertaken in order to explore the topic areas covered within the surveys in more depth and gather individual experiences to help supplement and augment the survey findings.

1.1.4 The report consists of further chapters as follows:

• Chapter 2 - provides a background on broadband and how it is provided in Scotland and an overview of the R100 programme and its relationship with other similar programmes in the UK
• Chapter 3 - provides a discussion of the key benefits of improved digital connectivity as identified within the wider literature
• Chapter 4 - sets out a range of logic maps specifying the potential outcomes and impacts which may result from the delivery of the R100 programme
• Chapter 5 – discusses the methodological approach to the primary research and provides a summary of the achieved response
• Chapters 6 and 7 - provides a summary of the responses to the resident and business surveys respectively.
• Chapter 8 - sets out the findings from the focus groups / one-to-one interviews.
• Chapter 9 - provides a summary of the research findings in the context of the R100 Investment Objectives.