What aggregation has taken place in the public sector with regard to the roll-out of broadband technology; in what towns or communities and…

The aim of the broadband pathfinder projects is to make affordable broadband available to the public sector in the Highlands and Islands and the South of Scotland through the aggregation of demand. The projects, which involve connectivity for health, schools and other local authority sites, are currently in the midst of the formal procurement process.The only other example of broadband related aggregated public sector procurement in which the Executive has an involvement is Angus.Net. Supported under the first round of the Executive's Modernising Government Fund which was established to test innovation, Angus.Net is an innovative example of broadband related public sector procurement. It provides a model for a sustainable, shared, multi-agency telecommunications network across Angus. The organisations involved in Angus.Net include Angus Council, Tayside Police, Angus College and the University of Abertay.The Executive is currently using the UK broadband fund to support trials of a variety of different broadband delivery models suitable for remote and small communities. Additionally, it is developing measures under the Executive's £24 million broadband initiative to stimulate demand for broadband services generally and to subsidise the purchase by businesses and communities of appropriate technologies. An announcement to mark the official launch of the initiative is imminent.