The Scottish Government’s Reaching 100% (R100) programme ensures that every home and business in Scotland can access superfast broadband (30Mbps) by the end of 2021.

Digital connectivity has proven to be vital throughout the pandemic, whether supporting our health and emergency services or in enabling people to work or study from home and stay connected to friends and family.

While high quality infrastructure continues to be built across the country through the £600m R100 contracts and ongoing works by commercial operators, we’ve been able to make sure that every address in Scotland can access superfast broadband by the end of 2021 through the provision of the R100 Scottish Broadband Voucher Scheme.

Scottish Broadband Voucher Scheme

The R100 Scottish Broadband Voucher Scheme provides two levels of subsidy. A main voucher up to the value of £5,000 for properties that are not expected to receive a connection through either the R100 contracts or commercial investment, and an interim voucher worth up to £400 for homes and businesses where there is roll-out of superfast broadband planned, but not until 31 December 2021.

Applications for interim vouchers will be open until 31 March 2022, while submissions for main vouchers will continue to be accepted after March 2022.

Read more about the interim voucher scheme extension

Highland local finds mileage in superfast connection

Morven, from Banavie at the foot of Ben Nevis, can now access superfast speeds after applying for an R100 interim voucher.

“Our broadband speed has increased significantly since we used the R100 interim voucher for a wireless connection with local supplier, Locheilnet.

“We used to experience regular loss of connection which disrupted calls and presentations, but our new broadband connection has helped my partner and I to work from home successfully. Pre-Covid I would often travel 400 miles per week for work; I haven’t travelled at all for 21 months since my home broadband improved.”

R100 connecting Sutherland resident to the remote-working job market

The R100 programme is making a big difference to many remote premises. Mairi, from Assynt, Sutherland, can now access superfast speeds through a 4G broadband connection, installed thanks to an R100 voucher. Mairi said:

“I am particularly delighted, as this installation has enabled me to accept a remote working job offer following seven years out of work. This job would not be possible without superfast broadband, as all of the work is online and requires a fast connection. It will be absolutely brilliant to be able to operate this business from Assynt.

“The installation is excellent and achieving much higher speeds than I expected. Between 45 and 62Mbps. This initiative is going to make a massive difference to our remote community in Sutherland and timing of this is particularly helpful, given the huge impact of Covid on tourism based revenues.”

Majority of R100 contract build is gigabit capable

As reported earlier this month, the R100 contract build is well underway with connections now live in all contract areas across Scotland, including the North, which began deployment as recently as September 2021.

Airth, Dolphinton and Portlethen are just a few of the many communities where properties are now benefitting from faster broadband connections following works by Openreach in 2021.

The R100 contracts now largely surpass our original superfast commitment. This means that the majority of contracted premises will receive gigabit capable connections, delivering speeds over 30 times faster than previously planned.

The technology being delivered means that the engineering works will take time, but it will ensure that a future-proofed and resilient broadband infrastructure reaches some of the most rural and remote areas of Scotland.

To find out the status of your broadband connection and voucher eligibility, enter your postcode into our online address checker.