Question reference: S5W-33218
- Asked by: Edward Mountain, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
- Date lodged: 12 November 2020
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Current status: Answered by Paul Wheelhouse on 7 December 2020
Question
To ask the Scottish Government, regarding Lot 1 of the R100 high-speed broadband programme, whether it is on track to finalise the contract award to BT by the end of 2020; when the contract award with BT will be finalised, and when it will announce the revised delivery schedule for Lot 1.
Answer
We are in the final stages of finalising the R100 North Lot (Lot 1) contract award and remain on track to sign the contract by the end of this calendar year. The contract will ensure delivery of future-proofed broadband infrastructure to homes and businesses across the North of Scotland, including in some of our most remote parts and all of our islands communities.
Once the contract is signed, we will work with BT to finalise planned coverage, taking into account the latest information on commercial coverage, and immediately start site surveys and build. Parliament will be kept informed and the online checker, available to the public, will be updated in a timely manner as premises level detail flows through.
Our Scottish Broadband Voucher Scheme (SBVS), which has now launched, will ensure that everyone who requires a superfast broadband connection by the end of 2021 can have one - including those in the R100 North Lot.