BT has completed major upgrade to Scotland’s infrastructure.

The telecoms giant has finished its work on the Scottish Wide Area Network (SWAN) programme, delivering faster and more secure connectivity to more than 5000 public sector sites across the country in what is one of the UK’s largest public sector network transformation programmes.

The upgraded network now supports a broad range of essential services, including hospitals, GP surgeries, schools, local government offices, and transport hubs from Dumfries to the Shetland Islands.

BT has finished its work on the Scottish Wide Area Network programme (Image: BT Group)

Ishbell MacPhail, head of BT Business in Scotland, said: "This is an important milestone for BT and for the organisations that rely on SWAN every day to deliver vital public services.

"From healthcare and emergency response to schools and local government, better connectivity helps teams share information more effectively, collaborate more easily, and support people in communities across Scotland.

"This programme stands out not only for its scale, but for the complexity of delivering major network upgrades while critical services continue to operate.

"By working closely with partners across the public sector, we are helping to build a secure and resilient platform that can support innovation and improved services long into the future."

Delivered ahead of schedule, the project forms part of a contract worth up to £350 million over six years, awarded in 2023 by NHS National Services Scotland (now Public Services Delivery Scotland).

The contract aims to future-proof connectivity for public sector organisations, including those in some of the most remote and rural parts of Scotland.

BT has worked with a range of national and regional partners to deliver the network upgrades, including NHS Scotland, the Scottish Government, the Scottish Ambulance Service, the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service, and local authorities.

The upgraded network is designed to improve communication, data sharing, and collaboration, supporting more modern and efficient public services.

Over the past year, BT and its delivery partners have completed some of the most technically complex elements of the programme, including major fibre builds and transitioning live critical and national services.

These upgrades required careful planning and specialist engineering expertise to minimise disruption to vital public services.

Steven Flockhart, director of digital and security at Public Services Delivery Scotland, said: "Working collaboratively with Public Services Delivery Scotland and BT, organisations across the SWAN community have completed the transition to enhanced network services that provide the resilience, performance and flexibility required to meet the evolving needs of modern public services.

"Together, we are creating an advanced digital foundation that will support innovation, transformation and improved public services for years to come, ensuring that SWAN remains the digital home of Scotland's public sector."

BT will continue working with Public Services Delivery Scotland and other public sector organisations throughout the remainder of the contract.

The focus will be on further enhancing the SWAN service and ensuring it remains resilient, secure, and capable of supporting future needs.

Tom Arthur MSP, minister for business and fair work, said: "The successful upgrade of digital connectivity at more than 5000 public sector sites across Scotland is a significant achievement.

"Reliable digital connectivity is increasingly essential to the delivery of public services.

"Through the £350 million SWAN contract, awarded by NHS Scotland on behalf of the Scottish Government, BT and public sector organisations working in partnership have helped provide the robust and dependable digital infrastructure that they rely upon to serve communities across the country."

The SWAN programme enables the delivery of new and improved public services, including virtual healthcare, remote diagnostics, and more modern contact centre operations.

It also supports technologies including voice, video, cloud connectivity, and secure remote access.

The project aligns with the Scottish Government’s broader digital ambitions, promoting a consistent and future-ready connectivity strategy for the public sector.

BT delivered the programme in partnership with Openreach and other delivery partners, highlighting the benefits of collaboration between industry and the public sector.

The upgraded network is expected to provide a platform for ongoing innovation and improved digital services for people and communities across Scotland.

As the contract continues, further enhancements are planned to support the evolving demands of public sector organisations.