Scotland’s Digital Future
Scotland’s Digital Future: A Strategy for Scotland (2011) sets out in detail how the Scottish Government - with help from other key partners - intend to achieve their digital ambition.
“Our ambition for Scotland’s digital future is that next generation broadband will be available to all by 2020, with significant progress being made by 2015.”
The aim is for Scotland to be at the forefront of the digital economy and next generation broadband it is thought to be a key driver. However, Ofcom figures highlight that only 61% of the Scottish population have broadband – 10% below the average and the lowest of any UK nation. BT started to roll out superfast broadband at the end of 2010 and aims to make it available to at least two-thirds of the UK by 2015. BT’s ‘Race to Infinity’ competition that ran in the autumn of 2010 allowed communities to vote for their exchange to be upgraded. Scotland’s only winner Innerleithen in the Scottish Borders will be the first rural area in Scotland to benefit from this. More Scottish locations are to follow parts of the Central Belt which are already benefiting from superfast broadband that BT offer.
Mobile Broadband
Mobile has also been indicated as an important factor in the digital strategy. Work aimed to encourage greater demand for broadband will also investigate hurdles compromising the mobile broadband sector. Mobile devices are an increasingly popular way of accessing digital content due to the rise of tablet and smartphone usage. Ofcom (2010) report that the UK has the third highest take-up of smartphones in Europe (after Italy and Spain).
“Improved mobile broadband coverage in Scotland is critical, particularly in light of recent research that indicates 29% of UK internet users use mobile to access the internet at home.”
Ofcom’s Communications Market Report for Scotland (2010) states that out-with the Central Belt and the Scottish cities, 3G coverage in Scotland is poor, with very little in rural areas. The Scottish Government wants to see significant improvements in rural 3G coverage. Figures highlight 3G coverage in Scotland at 41% geographic coverage and 66% population coverage, well behind the UK average levels of 76% and 87% respectively.
Scotland’s Digital Future: A Strategy for Scotland (2011) proposes an approach to ensuring that Scotland is positioned to take full advantage of the opportunities and benefits offered by all things digital.
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