Business leaders have warned the next Scottish Government not to let the country be “left behind” in the broadband revolution.
The Federation of Small Businesses said yesterday that the government must work closely with its Westminster counterpart to ensure businesses have quality broadband access.
The organisation said fast and reliable internet access is essential to the economy and that without it, small and rural businesses will lose out.
FSB Scottish policy convener Andy Willox said, “The roll-out and uptake of next-generation broadband is important to all of Scotland private and public sector, business and consumer, third sector, schools, universities and colleges.
“Scotland’s geography and institutions must not mean we’re left behind.”
The FSB cited new research by the last Scottish Government, which found that 45% of Scottish businesses which use broadband believe they will need a higher bandwidth over the next two to three years.
Businesses which anticipate substantial growth are twice as likely to feel they are constrained by current internet speeds, compared with businesses with more moderate growth forecasts.
Almost two-thirds of businesses think they will use broadband more in the next five years.
Dundee and Angus Chamber of Commerce chief executive Alan Mitchell said, “In the modern world, broadband is part of the infrastructure.”