Connecting the UK: Project Gigabit

A new scheme has been launched by the UK Government entitled ‘Project Government’, the plan is to ensure the entire UK has access to a network connection including more rural areas. There is a total of £5 billion of funding available for this project which is expected to be released over a few years. It is estimated that the UK will have 85% network coverage by 2025.

The aim is to have a reliable network throughout the UK that can be accessed by everyone, a full-fibre connection is required to aid the upgrade to faster connection speeds. The Gigabit broadband network featured in this project supports a symmetrical connection model meaning download and upload speeds are the same.

£210 million worth of voucher funding is available to both home and business owners. Priority of funding is being given to people experiencing limited or non-existent network connections in rural areas. Homeowners can claim up to £1,500 in funding whereas business can claim up to £3,500 to be used towards the cost of installing gigabit broadband. Applications for funding were opened on the 8^th April 2021.

There is a variety of criteria that must be met in order to apply for funding. In terms of household applications, the criteria includes:

• No existing plans to upgrade the existing network already
• No gigabit network installation planned commercially in your local area
• Location is classed as rural
• If applicable, the existing network connection is less than 100 Mbps

For businesses the criteria is:

• Must be a Small/Medium Enterprise
• Must have no more than 249 employees
• Annual turnover must not be higher than £36 million
• And/or annual balance sheet must not exceed £18 million

It is important to note that the Government has highlighted that single applications for vouchers are not eligible for the scheme. To apply, there must be enough interest within the area, a group of homeowners or businesses apply together and combine vouchers to support the installation of a new network.

Phase 1 of the network rollout is expected to start in early 2022 in Cambridgeshire, Cornwall, Cumbria, Dorset, Durham, Essex, South Tyneside and Tees Valley.

Additional areas expected to be included within phase two around Summer 2022 are Shropshire, Suffolk, Worcestershire, Hampshire and the Isle of Wight.

For more information regarding the scheme or to check your area eligibility head to the GOV.UK website here.