GoFibre Starts Full Fibre Build for 100,000 Premises Rollout in North East Scotland

Why It Matters

Gigabit broadband will close the digital divide, enabling businesses and households to compete in a data‑driven economy while stimulating local employment and investment.

Key Takeaways

• £105 million contract for 63,000 premises
• Goal: 100,000 premises including commercial builds
• Construction starts in Stonehaven, St Cyrus, Laurencekirk
• Existing network covers 25,000 premises in region
• Project creates jobs and boosts local economies

Pulse Analysis

The UK’s Project Gigabit initiative aims to blanket the nation with ultra‑fast fibre, and GoFibre’s latest contract marks a pivotal step for Scotland’s north‑east. Backed by a £105 million investment, the rollout aligns with government targets to deliver gigabit speeds to at least 75% of premises by 2025. GoFibre, already operating a substantial network in Aberdeenshire and Angus, leverages its existing infrastructure to accelerate deployment, reducing civil‑engineering costs and shortening time‑to‑service for new customers.

The deployment will initially focus on six towns, extending fibre to 63,000 homes and businesses under the public contract, with an additional 37,000 premises built on a commercial basis to reach the 100,000‑premise milestone. For residents, this translates into reliable, low‑latency connections essential for remote work, online education, and high‑definition streaming. Enterprises, from agritech farms to tourism operators, will gain the bandwidth needed for cloud services, IoT devices, and real‑time data analytics, fostering productivity gains and new revenue streams.

Beyond connectivity, the project carries broader economic implications. Construction activity creates skilled jobs in engineering, trenching, and project management, while the permanent network attracts digital‑focused businesses to the region. Competition intensifies as incumbent providers respond to GoFibre’s aggressive expansion, potentially driving down prices and spurring further innovation. In the long term, a robust fibre backbone positions North East Scotland as a hub for technology‑enabled industries, supporting regional growth and narrowing the urban‑rural digital gap.