Getting around and staying connected

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Public transport in Scotland

Scotland has a very well-developed public transport system that covers the length and breadth of the country. 

We also have an excellent rail network that serves cross-country links throughout Scotland as well as regular connections to the rest of the UK. 

Many of our buses and trains are also equipped with free Wi-Fi, making your journey more enjoyable. So whether you need to catch up on emails, plan the next stage of your journey or just update your social media, you can do so while travelling in comfort.

Digital connectivity

All of Scotland’s major cities and towns are currently covered by high-speed internet connections. From 4G and 5G connectivity to the latest full fibre broadband and development of green data centres, Scotland is well and truly at the forefront of the digital world.

Getting online has never been more essential to people than it is today, and the digital world has become an integral part of all our lives. However, we’re not stopping there; technology is always advancing, internet speeds are getting faster and we’re making sure we continue to keep up with the pace.

The Scottish Government is committed to Scotland’s digital future, and committed to ensuring that every community can play an active part in the digital economy. In addition to the continued roll-out of its own £600m+ Reaching 100% (R100) programme, it’s also designing interventions that will suit Scotland and continue to extend the reach of future-proofed broadband through the UK Government’s Project Gigabit. 

R100 – which is expected to benefit around 113,000 homes and businesses – is already making progress. By October 2024, over 68,000 premises had been connected to faster broadband. 
High-quality mobile connectivity is equally as important with a range of programmes contributing to this goal.

The Scottish Government’s £28.75 million Scottish 4G Infill (S4GI) programme programme has brought 4G coverage for the first time to 55 long-standing mobile “notspots” in rural and island areas of Scotland. The Scotland 5G Centre is a national centre, also funded by the Scottish Government, with the aim of bringing together academia, industry and government to accelerate the enterprise usage of 5G in public and private network environments.

We also know how important Wi-Fi is to our visitors and residents, and we take these needs very seriously. That is why Scotland’s capital city, Edinburgh, is the UK’s largest Gigabit City. 

A Gigabit city is a town or city with a full fibre network that’s capable of surpassing the needs of the entire region. That includes residents, businesses, mobile connectivity and the public sector! 

Find out more about Digital Connectivity (digitalconnectivity.campaign.gov.scot)