Project Gigabit in Scotland

Description

Deployment of infrastructure that will facilitate access to gigabit capable internet connections to premises which are not expected to be otherwise covered by suppliers' commercial plans. In March 2021, the UK Government announced an ambition to deliver nationwide gigabit-capable broadband infrastructure, recognising that there is a need for government intervention in the parts of the country that are not commercially viable. They have committed a total of 5 billion GBP to ensure that all areas of the UK can benefit. This will be spent through a package of coordinated and mutually supportive interventions, collectively known as Project Gigabit, with an initial intervention of 1.2 billion GBP targeting at least 85% gigabit coverage of the UK by 2025 and nationwide gigabit-capable broadband infrastructure by 2030. As part of Project Gigabit, the Scottish Government is working with Building Digital UK (BDUK) to deliver contracts to suppliers delivering gigabit-capable wholesale infrastructure in Scotland. This procurement approach will be a successor to the Digital Scotland Superfast Broadband programme and work in parallel with the Scottish Government’s current Reaching 100% (R100) programme.