Full fibre broadband to boost Scottish economy by £4.6 billion

New research from telecommunications giant Openreach, conducted by the Centre for Economics & Business Research, has suggested that giving Scotland access to full-fibre broadband by 2025 will boost its economy by £4.6 billion.

The company suggested that connecting the country to faster internet networks would allow individuals and businesses to boost productivity and output, and support the development of smarter working techniques, better public services, and new opportunities for small and home-grown enterprises.

According to Brendan Dick, the chair of Openreach Scotland’s board: “This report looks at the significant economic benefit and jobs boost that having access to full-fibre would create. We’re already building in places like Edinburgh, Greater Glasgow, Kilmarnock and West Lothian and we’re looking forward to going even further in the future.”

The report suggested that an enhanced broadband network could attract as many as 37,400 individuals back to Scotland to support the workforce, and would even offer older people and parents the prospect of working remotely.

In particular, it outlined how remote working could add value to the Scottish economy, and also focused on the importance of connecting rural areas to bring them up to par with that of urban centres. The combination of the two would consequently reduce housing and transport pressures in cities.

The research comes in conjunction with Prime Minister Boris Johnson’s pledge to have full-fibre broadband coverage by 2025.

Openreach’s chief executive, Clive Selley, added: “Full fibre is a vehicle to turbocharge our economy post-Brexit, with the power to renew towns and communities across the UK.

“With the right policies and regulation, we can build an even better, more reliable broadband network faster than any other country in the world and unlock the benefits for the whole UK.

“If that doesn’t happen, then many people will be locked out of a more connected future and the UK could lose its status as a global digital leader.”