In a joint response to Ofcom’s consultation on the forthcoming 700MHz spectrum auction, Holyrood and the Scottish Future Trust have urged the regulator to consider alternative options to improve rural connectivity in Scotland.

Ofcom’s proposals to auction off the 700MHz band for 5G use are neither “sufficiently ambitious” for Scotland, nor for the rest of the UK.

The 700MHz band was previously used for digital terrestrial television services.

Holyrood and the Trust added that they were “extremely disappointed” that the original proposed geographic coverage obligation of 76% in Scotland had been reduced to 74%.

Similarly, the UK-wide reduction from 92% to 90% was equally unambitious.

Connectivity Minister Paul Wheelhouse said that while mobile coverage will improve as a result of Ofcom’s proposals, its target of 2Mbps is not “sufficiently aspirational” and fails to account for potential future growth in service demand.

“Although we will see coverage improve as a result of Ofcom’s proposals, the proposals will still leave coverage in Scotland lagging behind Wales, Northern Ireland and England,” he said. “On top of that, the target of 2Mbps is not sufficiently aspirational, does not leave enough scope for future growth in service demand and should be reconsidered.”

The Minister said that while engagement between Ofcom, the Scottish Government and the Scottish Futures Trust in exploring alternative approaches has been promising, Holyrood and the organisation believe proposals fall “far too short for Scotland”.

He added: “I look forward to continuing to work collaboratively with Ofcom and the Scottish Futures Trust to explore solutions and, ultimately, to ensure that Scotland is ready for the roll-out of 5G services.”

In 2017, the Scottish Government invested to improve mobile coverage across Scotland as part of the 4G Infill Programme.

The £25 million programme aimed to address ‘not-spots’ that left rural and remote communities with inadequate digital connectivity. Wheelhouse said that as a UK regulator, Ofcom should be working alongside Scottish Government investments to “maximise consumer access to services”.

Read more: £25 Million to Address Scotland’s Mobile ‘Not-Spots’

He said: “Even though it is not, for now, our responsibility, the Scottish Government is already investing £25 million of our own resources to improve mobile coverage through the Scottish 4G Infill Programme and we believe there are opportunities to test innovative technologies through our programme to improve coverage in Scotland.

“However, there is an essential role for Ofcom, as the UK-wide regulator, to work alongside that investment in order to maximise consumer access to services.”