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Connecting Scotland our broadband future: Making it Happen
MINISTERIAL FOREWORD
Iain Gray, MSP
Minister for Enterprise, Transport and Lifelong Learning
Last year we published our broadband strategy, Connecting Scotland: our broadband future. Our objective was a nation with affordable and pervasive access to broadband; a nation which could realise the full benefits of this technology.
The benefits of broadband are well known. For businesses, the greater capacity for data transfer increases the potential gains from e-business. The resulting ability to use Internet technologies to operate faster and more efficiently provides companies with a competitive edge. For the public sector, broadband can also enhance the delivery of its online services and for consumers, there is the general benefit of enjoying a better, always-on Internet experience. Indeed, those who have taken up broadband give us the clearest testament to its advantages. Quite simply, those using the technology do not want to give it up.
We therefore remain fully committed to our strategy and have been pursuing it through a technology and supplier-neutral approach. Considerable progress has been made in implementing all key elements of our strategy and this update provides further details.
Although coverage is still an issue especially in rural areas, about half of the Scottish population now has access to broadband via ADSL and/or cable modem and this figure is increasing steadily. Recent developments in the market - such as price cuts for broadband, higher profile broadband marketing campaigns and demand registration websites are very encouraging.
However, despite these positive developments, we are not satisfied that enough of Scotland's people are gaining access to broadband quickly enough. The population coverage of the technology in Scotland is less than the percentage figure for the UK as a whole and we mean to address this.
Our strategy states that we will work to identify areas where direct market intervention is necessary and while this was not appropriate at the time of the strategy's original publication (given the early stage at which the broadband market stood), the case for intervention is now clearer. Intervention is appropriate and indeed, necessary.
To this end, we will provide support to upgrade a significant number of telephone exchanges across the country to provide ADSL to more of Scotland's people. In tandem with this, we will assist businesses in those areas gaining new access to the technology to fully harness the potential of broadband. Working closely with the private sector we will provide support where it is needed, making training available, raising awareness and explaining the benefits offered by the technology.
Plans are being developed which will deliver, in the short term, this step change in Scotland's broadband market.
Our actions, taken alongside developments already occurring within the market place will further grow the supply side of the broadband equation. However, what will ultimately deliver pervasive broadband across Scotland is increasing uptake of the service.
It is apparent that more needs to be done on demand stimulation if businesses and consumers are to benefit from the provision that already exists and also to encourage roll-out to areas where it does not. We are working to kick-start a positive chain of events i.e. the extension of supply permits uptake; uptake allows an experience of the benefits of broadband; the benefits are passed on by word of mouth/case-studies and marketing; marketing generates more demand; demand encourages further commercial supply, and so on. A virtuous circle that will allow more of us across Scotland to experience the benefits that broadband offers.
You too can contribute to the broadband revolution if you are already experiencing the advantages of higher bandwidth Internet. Spread the word and be part of the virtuous circle. Help us to make it happen.
Iain Gray, MSP
Minister for Enterprise, Transport and Lifelong Learning
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