Thousands of homes and businesses across Scotland’s most isolated communities are set to benefit from transformative broadband upgrades, as the UK Government rolls out the latest stage of its £5 billion Project Gigabit programme to combat digital exclusion.

New plans announced today will see gigabit-capable broadband delivered to around 65,000 rural premises in the Highlands, Aberdeenshire, Moray, Argyll and Bute, Angus, and Perth and Kinross, some of the hardest-to-reach areas in the UK.

The move is part of a broader commitment to ensure every part of the UK, regardless of geography, can access fast, reliable internet, a vital enabler for economic growth, education, healthcare access, and remote work opportunities.

Elizabeth Anderson, CEO of the Digital Poverty Alliance, commented: “The continued rollout of project gigabit in Scotland to reach isolated communities is a vital step in bridging the digital divide, providing the infrastructure for those without essential online services that many of us take for granted.

Scotland, especially, has proven difficult to reach for broadband providers due to its rural nature, so investment and collaboration in this scheme is a strong commitment to ensure millions aren’t left digitally excluded. It’s particularly welcome that the government recognises the shift towards digital services such as online banking and learning as a key driver behind the investment.

Connectivity must be viewed as an essential utility as an increasing number of services move online in the digital age, and this broadband rollout is a positive step in placing connectivity as a central pillar in national technology policy. What is now key is that the monthly costs of using high-speed connections are affordable, especially as the cost-of-living crisis continues.”

The £157 million contract with Openreach is the largest ever awarded under Project Gigabit. It will power up efforts to tackle digital exclusion across the entire UK – delivering the Prime Minister’s Plan for Change, from boosting local economic growth by giving businesses the vital tools they need, to improving access to public services like virtual NHS appointments.

The rollout forms part of an £800 million agreement with Openreach, first announced last August, to deliver gigabit broadband to rural and remote areas across Britain. Under this agreement, work is already underway to connect more than 227,000 premises in parts of Wales and England. In Scotland, delivery will be a joint effort between the UK Government, Scottish Government and Openreach.

Scottish Secretary Ian Murray said: “This £157 million UK Government investment is a game changer for tens of thousands of homes and businesses in the most remote areas of Scotland. Rolling out lightning-fast broadband will equip and inspire local businesses to thrive, enable families to access vital services, and build resilient communities. Our Plan for Change recognises that rural communities are the backbone of our nation and economic growth must reach every corner of Scotland, ensuring that opportunity isn’t determined by postcode but by potential.”

This announcement follows a record-breaking year for the UK’s digital infrastructure, with more than 1.8 million rural premises already connected to gigabit broadband.

As digital connectivity becomes increasingly essential to daily life, this initiative aims to level the playing field for communities that have historically been left behind, enabling them to participate fully in the digital economy.