BeyondtheVote
Sign in

Committee publication · Scrutiny evidence · 14 May 2026 · HC 1461

Public survey into ‘Connectivity in Scotland: Digital connectivity’ – summary of results

From: Scottish Affairs Committee

Inquiry: Connectivity in Scotland: Digital connectivity

Summary

The Scottish Affairs Committee surveyed 650 people across Scotland between November 2025 and January 2026 on digital connectivity. The survey found significant dissatisfaction: only 37% felt broadband met their needs, 39% said mobile data fell short, and 61% had altered behaviour due to poor connectivity. Island and rural respondents dominated replies. Key concerns included slow speeds, dropouts, infrastructure limitations, the RTS switch-off impact, and risks from PSTN phase-out affecting emergency access.

Key findings

  • 650 responses received, heavily weighted to rural (39%) and island (35%) areas; Shetland represented 25% of responses
  • Broadband: 37% satisfied, 33% unsatisfied; 57% report slow speeds, 47% dropouts, 44% inconsistent performance; 31% say issues 'always' or 'often' affect work/study/services
  • Mobile: 39% say current service unmet; 66% report issues with video calls/remote work; 12% say issues 'always' affect ability to work; 70% receive 4G, only 12% receive 5G
  • Infrastructure cited as core problem—outdated copper cables, absence of fibre rollout, single points of failure; some respondents paying for Starlink as alternative
  • RTS switch-off threatens 10% of respondents; 24% rely on landlines; 41% unable to reliably access online-only TV; power outages compound emergency access risks where mobile/broadband unreliable

Tone

Factual

Topics

digital-connectivitybroadband-infrastructuremobile-networksrural-servicesemergency-communications

Key actors

Scottish Affairs Committee, Shetland Islands respondents, Orkney Islands respondents, The Highlands respondents, Ofcom, Mobile network operators, Broadband providers (OpenReach referenced), Microsoft Copilot

Notable line

“"It's not a provider issue, it's the outdated network"  "They can't offer better speeds"  "Distance from the cabinet means internet speeds …”

Key Quotes

“It's not a provider issue, it's the outdated network”
— Survey respondent · Explaining limits of current infrastructure
“The rollout of FTTP is unacceptably slow and piecemeal.”
— Survey respondent · Commenting on fibre-to-the-premises rollout pace
“Fibre is installed 100m away. There are no plans for us.”
— Survey respondent · Describing postcode lottery exclusion from fibre access
“No ISP should be allowed to charge for service and have a single point of failure.”
— Survey respondent · Raising lack of resilience in broadband provision
“Starlink is fast and reliable but expensive - it's a rural tax.”
— Survey respondent · Describing high cost of alternative connectivity in rural areas
“… unable to contact emergency services”
— Survey respondent · Describing impact of potential landline phase-out
“Effectively we are cut off from the outside world in a power cut.”
— Survey respondent · Noting vulnerability when landline removed and mobile dependent on backup power
View original document →

Source · parliament.uk record ↗