The Scottish Government is using the latest mapping technology to engage with suppliers and boost broadband coverage in rural communities.
Using a cloud-based Geographic Information System (GIS) developed and hosted by thinkWhere, suppliers can identify properties that are currently not connected to superfast broadband and are eligible for vouchers to contribute to the capital cost of connection on behalf of community groups or individual premises.
Scotland has some of the most challenging topography for telecoms infrastructure, which is why the Government’s commitment to deliver superfast broadband to every address has resulted in one of the most ambitious infrastructure projects in Europe. Supporting two multi-million pound investment programmes, the Scottish Broadband Voucher Scheme (SBVS) specifically targets properties that will not be connected as part of the main programme of works or those that will not be connected under the original project timeframes.
“The interactive data portal, complete with mapping element, developed by thinkWhere is designed to encourage small broadband providers to connect eligible addresses in their local area,” said a spokesperson for the Digital Connectivity Division of the Scottish Government. “By displaying addresses on a map, and by making the underlying information for these addresses available to download, we hope to boost take up of the Voucher Scheme and therefore achieve our ambitions of 100 percent connectivity.”