R100 benefiting businesses and communities

An interim evaluation of the Scottish Government's Reaching 100% (R100) programme finds it has boosted business productivity, enhanced personal wellbeing and strengthened resilience for households and communities.

The report highlights benefits experienced by businesses connected via the R100 programme with 76% reporting increased productivity, 52% citing improved innovation and 69% experiencing overall performance gains.

The programme has also delivered wellbeing and social impacts. Of residents connected via R100, 49% reported improved wellbeing with benefits cited including reduced isolation, better access to healthcare and education, and stronger community engagement. 

Resilience gains are highlighted, with households reporting increased ability to work from home, and improved access to emergency information and essential updates during disruptions.

This is an interim report on the R100 programme, which is currently expected to be in delivery until 2028. The report findings will be used to help inform future policy and delivery decisions.

This evaluation confirms that the R100 programme is not just about faster internet – it’s about enabling opportunity, improving wellbeing, and building resilience in communities across Scotland.

You can read the R100 Interim Evaluation Report here.

Background

R100 is a £600+ million Scottish Government programme to deliver faster broadband to premises across Scotland.

Originally conceived as a superfast broadband programme, R100 is now providing gigabit-capable connections – which is more than 30 times faster than the original superfast commitment – in around 99% of cases.

Building to some of the hardest-to-reach parts of Scotland, the R100 programme has enabled access to faster broadband in more than 93,000 premises with many more to come.

Find out more about the R100 programme.