Petition for new connectivity plan reaches parliament

John Erskine is running for the Labour Party on the list ballot.

Rural communities can ill afford to be left behind in the “digital age,” a Labour Party campaigner said after he submitted a petition to parliament.

Scottish election hopeful John Erskine – who is running on the list vote – called for a new digital connectivity plan to be developed for the Highlands and Islands.

The petition asks the Scottish government to tackle digital infrastructure shortfalls, improve mobile internet coverage, and foster public-private partnerships, creating opportunities for economic development, healthcare access, and education in the region.

This comes before “significant changes” are made to telecommunications in the region with the impending phase-out of radio teleswitch meters and the retirement of copper phone lines.

“Reliable internet and mobile coverage are not luxuries—they’re lifelines for businesses, education, and healthcare,” Mr Erskine said.

“A comprehensive digital connectivity plan is vital to ensuring these communities have the tools they need to thrive.”

Challenges with telecommunications already face the Highlands and Islands, he added, with 25 per cent of Shetland experiencing internet speeds below 30Mbps.

Mobile phone connections were “patchy or unreliable” in many areas and gaps in digital infrastructure hindered growth in tourism and local industries.

The Holyrood public petitions committee considered the submission for the first time on Thursday, 28th November.