34.9% MORE HOUSEHOLDS IN WEST LOTHIAN CONNECTED TO SUPERFAST BROADBAND

34.9% MORE HOUSEHOLDS IN WEST LOTHIAN CONNECTED TO SUPERFAST BROADBAND

Angela Constance  MSP  has welcomed new figures that show a huge boost to connectivity in West Lothian,  thanks to significant investment from the Scottish Government.

 

According to the latest coverage statistics from Thinkbroadband, 97.9%  properties in West Lothian are now connected to superfast broadband – a 34.9% rise from 2014 when only 63% properties were connected to internet speeds of at least 30Mbps.

 

A report published this week from Ofcom also found that 172,889 properties across Scotland have been connected to superfast broadband in the last year alone.

 

Despite connectivity and broadband remaining reserved to Westminster, Scotland is the only part of the UK that has guaranteed 100% superfast broadband access.

 

While the Scottish Government  is investing £600 million in the R100 programme, the single biggest public sector investment in digital connectivity in the UK, Westminster has contributed less than £21 million to the project – just 3% of the total funding.

 

Commenting, Ms Constance said - 

 

“These latest figures are clear evidence that West Lothian has reaped the rewards of Scottish Government  broadband investment.

 

“Broadband is of course a reserved issue to Westminster, but successive UK governments have sat on their hands and done next to nothing to connect Scottish homes to superfast internet speeds.

 

“It’s been left to the Scottish Government to take up the mantle and invest £600 million in the R100 programme to ensure superfast broadband speeds reach every corner of Scotland.

 

“The Coronavirus pandemic has highlighted the importance of digital connectivity - helping thousands of people in Almond Valley work from home, keeping us in touch with loved ones and supporting our local health service.

 

 

 

ENDS

 

Notes:

 

https://www.ofcom.org.uk/__data/assets/pdf_file/0017/202571/connected-nations-summer-update-2020.pdf

 

Thinkbroadband (SUPERFAST) coverage statistics (as of July 2020)

 

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	Superfast coverage (30Mbps and above)
	FIGURE A	FIGURE B	FIGURE C
Local Authority	2014	2020	Increase
Aberdeen City	71.6%	96.7%	25.1%
Aberdeenshire	16.6%	83.4%	66.8%
Angus	58.8%	89.2%	30.4%
Argyll & Bute	0.9%	84.1%	83.2%
City of Edinburgh	90.5%	98.5%	8.0%
Clackmannanshire	54.2%	98.0%	43.8%
Dumfries & Galloway	17.0%	85.8%	68.8%
Dundee City	95.2%	99.1%	3.9%
East Ayrshire	48.5%	94.6%	46.1%
East Dunbartonshire	77.6%	98.1%	20.5%
East Lothian	31.9%	92.4%	60.5%
East Renfrewshire	84.6%	98.5%	13.9%
Falkirk	85.2%	97.5%	12.3%
Fife	52.9%	96.5%	43.6%
Glasgow City	75.2%	98.9%	23.7%
Highland	20.3%	80.7%	60.4%
Inverclyde	72.0%	97.6%	25.6%
Midlothian	44.0%	93.5%	49.5%
Moray	6.9%	88.1%	81.2%
Na h-Eileanan an Iar (Outer Hebrides)	1.3%	78.5%	77.2%
North Ayrshire	40.9%	96.6%	55.7%
North Lanarkshire	77.3%	98.6%	21.3%
Orkney Islands*	11.1%	64.9%	53.8%
Perth & Kinross	39.3%	86.9%	47.6%
Renfrewshire	76.7%	98.0%	21.3%
Scottish Borders	20.8%	87.8%	67.0%
Shetland Islands**	28.9%	75.2%	46.3%
South Ayrshire	44.9%	94.8%	49.9%
South Lanarkshire	70.2%	96.1%	25.9%
Stirling	56.5%	91.7%	35.2%
West Dunbartonshire	88.7%	99.2%	10.5%
West Lothian	63.0%	97.9%	34.9%

 

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* No data available before December 2014

** No data available before September 2014

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