Scotland is well on its way to having a world-class communications network, Brendan Dick tells Dominic Ryan
Brendan Dick, director of BT Scotland, believes effective communication is vital to Scotland's prosperity and well-being.
"Communication is critical for our future," he says. "If you look at key industries, many are entirely dependent on technology for using and moving data. Having information is also critical to the further development of sectors such as oil and gas.
"There are two main components to effective communication: moving big data and analysing it. When you can achieve both of these via a well-founded infrastructure then all distance dissipates - of course, what is unique about BT in Scotland is that its operations extend all the way from the Shetlands right down to the Borders.
"Our engineering workforce is critical to running that system and we've been investing a lot of money to ensure our capabilities are there. However, we're never complacent about the need for continued investment at various levels."
This investment has included a strong focus on increasing the mass-market broadband percentage available in Scotland.
"We put in shed loads of money, complemented by investment from government to reach beyond commercial boundaries," says Dick.
Shed loads equates to £2.5 billion for BT's UK commercial fibre broadband programme, a scheme that will enable it to connect 1.4 million Scottish premises, mostly in urban areas and market towns.
Dick points out: "Scottish industries are buying relatively cheap, high-bandwidth services and businesses have access to good service levels. They're buying into a truly global network with connectivity across 176 countries."
Research shows that with the new fibre broadband network reaching more than 80% of Cornwall, this has boosted the local economy. Does Dick envisage similar benefits coming soon for Scottish communities?
"There are similarities to Cornwall," he says. "What Cornwall is achieving, Scotland will achieve. There has always been clear investment in IT infrastructure: it is important for the economy, in particular the SME economy."
However, he adds: "It's about what you're going to do with the technology. Scotland has the infrastructure and future infrastructure, but we need to know how we are going to educate, help and advise businesses, particularly SMEs, to understand and exploit IT to the max. It's incredible to think that 25% of SMEs are not online.
"There is potential everywhere and not just in hi-tech, wacky stuff but in traditional industries. If we look at tourism, there is a massive gap between those companies which operate online and those which don't. It needs smarter thinking. You can have the best infrastructure in the world but people must learn to make it work in the best way for them."
Of course, many businesses are harnessing the full potential of telecommunications. Dick highlights the fact that this means BT is already able to generate more than £942m for the Scottish economy.
"That's an important point that is sometimes forgotten. We have 7000 people engaged and we are already responsible for nearly 12,000 jobs across Scotland," he says.
"The key thing is spending, and the benefits come through the supply chain. This entails not only sharing the economic benefits: there are social and ethical benefits that are shared when you do things the right way. And so right through the supply chain we look at factors such as reducing carbon footprint through emissions."
One element that is not quite so straightforward is Scotland's terrain. It may be beautiful in its remoteness and ruggedness, but it can also be challenging when it comes to installing and maintaining telecommunications.
"The geography can be tough," admits Dick. "In fact, it can be a fair old challenge. The Central Belt is not particularly more difficult than other parts of the UK. However, the more rural parts of places like Galloway and the Highlands and Islands are at the extreme edge.
"Interestingly, the thing about the Highlands and Islands is there is a real focus on evolving technology, both in terms of provision and exploitation. It's central to local economic development and offers a strong social cohesion that can help reverse population decline.
"We are a nation of five million people, with quite a lot of land, after all, but thanks to effective telecommunications the trend as a society is towards not having to commute to major cities. Having knowledge-based industries not only avoids the rush-hour nightmare, but continually improving communications in these remote areas keeps more people in situ and attracts inward investment."
Investment in future generations of the Scottish workforce is another area where BT is pro-active. It is creating 60 apprentice and graduate jobs in Scotland as part of a nationwide recruitment drive, and Dick says these are important to BT.
"I joined BT as a graduate but many of my colleagues at BT, who have enjoyed phenomenal success, began as apprentices: there is recognition today, as there was years ago, that starting as an apprentice and moving up is a uniquely valuable way of shaping a career.
"We have a different mix of recruits, both graduates and apprentices, with a range of roles and functions, from customer care to engineering and software.
"Bringing apprentices in to the mix has been really successful. These are great kids who are imbued with a fine work ethos and understand the high expectations that the company has.
"Creating a new generation of engineers is contingent to giving the country a better capacity in key sectors."
As the next generation comes on board and infrastructure grows, the Scottish Government has pledged the country will become 'a world-class digital nation by 2020'.
"From experience and my involvement in this agenda for 14 years, this is an achievable goal," says Dick. "First-generation broadband happened faster than anyone expected. Now we're already working on new technologies and innovations. We have six years until 2020, so I'm pretty confident we can have a first-class system."
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