Extra 1,000 Orkney homes to be connected to broadband roll-out programme

A further 1,000 properties in Orkney are to be connected to high-speed broadband after the announcement of an additional £36million investment in the Scottish Government’s R100 programme.

But, while the news has been widely welcomed by the islands authority and MSP Liam McArthur, there is a warning that some households will still miss out and more needs to be done.

The Scottish Government has announced extra investment in the R100 programme, which will see another 2,637 rural properties across Scotland able to access gigabit-capable connections — faster speeds than were initially proposed when the programme was launched.

The R100 programme, launched in December 2019, pledged to deliver superfast broadband to 100 per cent of premises by 2021 — however, given the effects of pandemic this was delayed along with legal challenges — and it was expected that the programme would still not provide appropriate broadband access for many areas of Orkney.

With the additional finding announcement it is hoped that more areas will be covered — although Government mapping has showed that there are some areas that will still miss out.

Council Leader James Stockan said: “Today’s funding announcement is tremendous news and follow significant lobbying by this council. It’s particularly pleasing that the majority of the funding is targeted at the North area including around 1,000 properties in Orkney.

“Orkney faces some of the most challenging connectivity issues in the UK. It is vital that the Scottish Government level the playing field so that our communities, our children and young people, and our businesses, are not left behind in a world that increasingly depends on the most modern mobile and wireless networks.

“That said, there are some areas of Orkney which may still miss out — and we’ll continue to press for progress to ensure no one is left behind.”

Mr McArthur said: “For those who still fall outwith the current plans, the fight for a fair deal continues. I will continue, therefore, to press Scottish Ministers to find ways of supporting solutions that can plug those remaining gaps so that our entire community gets access to the broadband services it needs, deserves and has been promised.”