Increased digital participation can improve people's quality of life, boost economic growth and allow more effective delivery of public services. We know many people in Scotland already use digital technology regularly and confidently. However, there is clearly more that can be done to improve and increase usage.
Figures from Ofcom show that the level of broadband uptake in Scotland is 61% of the population. This is the lowest of any nation in the UK, and 10 percentage points below the UK average of 71%. We know that this must change and we want to ensure that broadband uptake in Scotland should be equal to, or above, the UK average by 2013.
Progress is being made but more work remains to be completed. Read more about the actions we will be taking forward to improve digital participation in Part Four of Scotland's Digital Future.
Along with signatories of Scotland's Digital Participation Charter we are committed to increasing participation rates over the lifetime of the parliament.
You can now register an interest in next generation broadband for your area.
Read more at: Digital Participation Charter
Register your interest for next generation broadband at: Register for next generation broadband