The Argyll case: Highlands and Islands’ pilot for BBC superfast broadband

This is a bright spot in the national gloom of the spending review.

There are to be four pilot superfast broadband projects across the UK to be delivered by the BBC. The specific areas have been chosen as those – remote and underpopulated – of the least priority for private sector suppliers.

Highlands and Islands is the only one in Scotland.

Argyll is part of Highlands and Islands but often sidelined in the vast region.

This time we need to make quite sure that Argyll and the Isles are part of this pilot delivery project.

In many ways Argyll is the best possible test case for the contribution to business and social development by superfast broadband. The span across a shredded mainland and a multi-island territory poses every possible difficulty to communications.

The cost of the four pilot schemes is £530 million of which £300 million will come from the BBC and the rest from the UK Government.

Political responses

From Jamie McGrigor MSP: Commenting on the news of the superfast broadband pilot for the Highlands and Islands revealed by the Chancellor of the Exchequer in the Comprehensive Spending Review, Jamie McGrigor, Highlands & Islands Conservative MSP said: ‘I am delighted with this news which is a real boost for the whole of the Highlands & Islands.

‘I have long argued that a first class broadband system is key to business growth and development in my region and especially in the remote rural and island communities of this part of the world which can be at a disdavantage due to peripherality and distance from markets.

‘I was discussing the bid for this pilot project just the other week with Highlands & Islands Enterprise and was greatly encouraged that they believed it had the potential to be ‘ truly transformational to the Highlands & Islands’.

‘Next generation access provides broadband speeds far in excess of the current technology and I am very pleased that the Highlands & Islands will be at the forefront of the development of these new services.

‘This pilot project shows the UK government’s commitment to the Highlands & Islands and the expansion of its economy’.

From Jim Mather MSP: Constituency MSP for Argyll and Bute and the SNP Scottish Government’s Enterprise Minister, Jim Mather has welcomed the news that Highlands & Islands Enterprise (HIE) are about to implement a superfast broadband initiative in their area as the result of a successful bid for UK government funding.

He says: ‘I am very pleased to learn of the successful bid by HIE for funding for a project that I hope will ease broadband access in parts of Argyll & Bute. I have always maintained that rural and island localities have much more than most to gain from fast and efficient IT services.

‘The geography and the topography of Argyll & Bute, for instance, means that travel and personal contact can often be difficult, frequently lengthy and, when weather is unfavourable, can cease to exist. With access to fast broadband services an operator at a desk on Tiree or in Campbeltown is operating on a level playing field with competitors in urban situations and can have the advantage of a much better and more agreeable work environment and lifestyle.

‘We have certainly encountered difficulties in accessing acceptable levels of broadband services across the Highlands and Islands as often the existing infrastructure was out of date. We now  have expectations of further improvement.

‘This next generation of improved technology enables the reach of business to get to previously remote locations. HIE are to be congratulated in presenting a good strong bid that the Scottish Government was  able to back and take forward with confidence’.

See Scotland and the Spending Review.