Question reference: S5W-31223
- Asked by: Stewart Stevenson, MSP for Banffshire and Buchan Coast, Scottish National Party
- Date lodged: 14 August 2020
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Current status: Initiated by the Scottish Government. Answered by Paul Wheelhouse on 18 August 2020
Question
To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on its proposed voucher scheme for access to superfast broadband, which it plans to complement its three R100 programme contracts.
Answer
Our new Scottish Broadband Voucher Scheme (SBVS) will provide grants to broadband customers in both residential and business premises, offering support to customers to ensure they can access superfast broadband of at least 30 Megabits per second (Mbps). It is intended to launch the SBVS in September 2020.
Anyone whose home or business broadband speed is less than 30 Mbps, and where there are no plans to bring superfast broadband to their address by the end of 2021, will be eligible for a voucher.
The SBVS will feature two distinct levels of subsidy:
- Firstly, premises with addresses that are either not in scope for a signed R100 contract nor for planned commercial investment will all be eligible for a main voucher, offering funding of up to £5,000 per premises – a level of funding far exceeding that of any other broadband voucher scheme in operation within the UK. This currently includes premises in the North of Scotland R100 lot area (including all of Scotland’s islands) until superfast broadband roll-out plans are known.
- Secondly, for those properties where superfast broadband roll-out is planned but known to be likely to be deployed after 31 December 2021, we will provide support worth up to £400 to deliver a connection through an ‘interim’ voucher scheme open until 31 December 2021. We will also ensure that those in the most difficult-to-reach locations can secure vital connectivity by providing an additional subsidy of £250. This will not prevent the deployment of the planned R100 intervention for those premises, for example where fibre to the premises is ultimately scheduled under the R100 programme, but will allow customers to access an interim superfast service using alternative technologies while the build on the longer term solution is undertaken.
Vouchers can be used to cover the cost of installation associated with securing a service across a range of superfast-capable technologies, including fibre, fixed wireless, mobile broadband, and satellite.
People will be able to ascertain their eligibility for SBVS through the online checker which is launching today. This will provide information on the premises within the scope of signed R100 contracts and planned commercial roll-outs. It can be found at www.scotlandsuperfast.com