Digital divide narrows but further action needed to improve broadband and mobile coverage, particularly for people in rural areas of Scotland - Ofcom

Digital divide narrows but further action needed to improve broadband and mobile coverage, particularly for people in rural areas of Scotland

15 December 2017

Superfast broadband available to 87% of premises in Scotland but around six percent still struggle to get a decent broadband service

Our updated coverage data shows that nearly nine in ten premises (87%) can receive an indoor voice signal from all four networks

But there remain large areas of Scotland where it is not possible to receive voice or data services

Enhanced Ofcom app helps people check for coverage and compare providers

The findings are part of Ofcom's Connected Nations 2017 report an in-depth look at communications networks in Scotland and the UK. This year's report outlines progress on the availability and take-up of broadband and mobile services, which are crucial to people's personal and working lives.

Superfast broadband available to 87% of premisesConnected Nations Scotland shows that superfast broadband defined by Ofcom as a download speed of 30 Mbit/s or more continues to improve. This summer, superfast broadband (30 Mbit/s) was available to 87 per cent of premises in Scotland, up from 83 per cent last year. Using the definition of 24 Mbit/s, superfast broadband was available to 89% of premises.

But Ofcom is concerned that around 150,000 homes and offices, or 6% of properties, still cannot get the broadband speeds needed to meet their typical needs. This is currently defined as broadband offering a download speed of at least 10 Mbit/s, with an upload speed of at least 1 Mbit/s although we expect these needs to increase over time. The figure has fallen from 190,000 premises last year.1

Today's report shows broadband speeds and access remain worse in rural areas, where properties are often situated a long way from the telephone exchange or local street cabinet. Around 27% of rural premises are not getting decent broadband services, compared to just 2% in urban areas.

Ofcom is also taking a range of steps to help improve broadband coverage and speeds, including:

Promoting industry-wide investment in full-fibre networks. These connections can deliver far quicker, more reliable broadband. Ofcom is making it easier and cheaper for competitors to lay their own ultrafast networks using BT's network of telegraph poles and underground ducts.

Supporting plans for universal broadband. Ofcom has provided technical advice to the UK Government on its plans for homes and businesses across the country including in rural and remote areas to have the right to request a broadband connection with a download speed of at least 10 Mbit/s, and an upload speed of at least 1 Mbit/s.

Ensuring better information for customers. Broadband shoppers must receive better information about speeds before they commit to a contract, and can walk away from their contract if speeds fall below a guaranteed minimum. New protections were set out by Ofcom in October.

Today's report shows the total amount of data carried over UK broadband networks increased by 52% over the last year. The average home broadband connection now carries 190 GBytes of data the equivalent of around 100,000 digital photographs every month.

Glenn Preston, Ofcom's Scotland Director, said: Broadband coverage is improving, but our findings show there's still urgent work required before people and businesses in Scotland get the services they need.

Everyone should have good access to the internet, wherever they live and work. So we are supporting plans for universal broadband, promoting investment in full-fibre technology that can provide ultrafast, reliable connections and working with the Scottish Government on their plans for further superfast rollout.

Further action needed on mobile coverageOfcom has changed the way we measure mobile coverage, to reflect the growing usage and expectations of smartphone users. Today's devices receive far more data, but also require stronger signals, than older phones.

We have raised our requirements for what constitutes coverage3, using new crowd-sourced information from thousands of handsets to capture mobile users' real experiences.

This means people can get the most accurate ever picture of mobile coverage, using Ofcom's interactive maps and smartphone app, which have been updated today. These tools provide clear, detailed information on the availability of mobile calling, text and data services in different parts of the country.

Our updated coverage data shows that mobile voice services from all four operators now covers 87% of premises in Scotland. But too many people in Scotland still struggle to get a sufficiently strong signal particularly in rural areas and on roads and railways. Total' geographic 4G coverage, where reception is available from all four mobile operators, is only available across just 17% of Scotland's landmass.

For calls and text messaging, 38% of Scotland's geography does not receive a signal from all four operators.

While these figures show improvements, we are calling for further investment from mobile providers to improve coverage and will continue to collaborate with the Scottish Government and Scottish Futures Trust on their 4G infill programme.

Ofcom is also taking direct action, including:

Setting new requirements in operators' licences. Early next year we will consult on detailed plans to improve coverage in rural areas, by setting coverage obligations on mobile airwaves being released in future. The requirements would be written into licences of operators who are awarded 700 MHz' frequencies, which are suitable for providing strong coverage over very wide areas.

Enforcing existing obligations. Mobile operators are already required to provide calls-and-text coverage to 90% of the UK landmass by the end of

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