Broadband Upgrade Scotland: 70,000 Premises Connected via R100 Rollout

Full Fibre rollout Scotland expands to 200 more rural and island locations

Openreach engineers have connected around 70,000 rural and island premises to faster, more reliable broadband across Scotland in the last six months.

The upgrades were delivered through the Scottish Government’s Reaching 100% (R100) programme, which aims to ensure everyone in Scotland can access superfast broadband.

Recent deployments span the country – from Yell and Unst in Shetland, to Mull and Luing, the Trossachs in Stirling, and villages like Eskdalemuir and Waterbeck in Dumfries and Galloway.

Next in line for upgrades include parts of the Isle of Skye, Mallaig, Hamnavoe in Shetland, and areas in the Cairngorms National Park. 

Government and Openreach partnership delivering results

Richard Lochhead, Scottish Business Minister, said:

“Reliable internet isn’t just a convenience. It provides access to education, services, remote work, and global markets. That’s why we’re committed to extending Full Fibre coverage where it’s needed most.”

The R100 programme is being delivered by Openreach and its trusted build partners. The £600 million initiative has already made a tangible impact on digital inclusion across rural Scotland.

Why Full Fibre matters for Scotland’s digital future

Katie Milligan, Openreach Chief Commercial Officer, said:

“We’re using innovative engineering to bring future-ready fibre connections to remote and offshore communities – on a digital par with city centres.”

Full Fibre broadband delivers:

• Speeds 30x faster than original superfast targets
• Fewer faults and more reliable service
• Future-proof infrastructure for streaming, gaming, and business

It’s part of Openreach’s broader ambition to reach 25 million UK premises by 2026 – with a strong focus on rural and hard-to-reach communities across Scotland.

Check your area and upgrade

Scotland residents can:

• Check their property to see if Full Fibre is available
• Register for updates
• Contact their broadband provider to arrange an upgrade once eligible

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