I commend Beatrice Wishart for securing the debate and bringing this important matter to the chamber. I also thank fellow members for their contributions.

Digital connectivity is central to the economic future of rural and island communities. That is why the Scottish Government has taken the lead and acted decisively. As members will be aware, power on telecoms is reserved to Westminster. Despite that, we have committed more than £600 million to extend gigabit-capable broadband networks, and we have targeted that investment at some of our hardest-to-reach communities. That approach has seen 16 new subsea cables being delivered, on time and on budget, which will connect our islands to the mainland. That investment paves the way for faster speeds and improved services and, crucially, will add greater resilience to the broadband and mobile networks that serve our island communities.

We have also acted to improve mobile coverage. Last year, we completed delivery of our 4G infill programme, which delivered 55 new masts and targeted investment to bring 4G coverage to rural and island areas for the first time. All that work is having a transformational impact. I wish to reassure members that there is more to come.

Our three broadband contracts with Openreach are on track to connect more than 113,000 homes and businesses in our hardest-to-reach communities. In the year ahead, we expect to connect some of Scotland’s most rural communities—Westray, Eday, Rousay, Shapinsay, Unst and Whalsay—and the isles of Mull and Iona. We also expect to start work in the Western Isles ahead of schedule. Thanks to those contracts, we have already connected more than 50,000 premises, with a focus on providing gigabit connections that are capable of delivering speeds 30 times faster than our original superfast commitment. There is no better example of how far our investment is going than Fair Isle, which is home to 65 people, all of whom can now access gigabit-capable broadband. Fair Isle is a symbol for just how connected rural Scotland is becoming. Whether it be through fibre, mobile, wireless or low earth orbit satellite networks, everyone in Scotland, no matter where they are based, can now access high-speed, high-bandwidth digital connectivity.

I recognise Ms Wishart’s concerns about the provision of fixed fibre broadband to premises, and the importance that she places on that. I make the foregoing points to illustrate the progress that we have made, but that does not suggest complacency or a slackening of pace. I recognise that there is still more work to be done and there are more communities to connect.