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Faster Internet connections are making a huge impact on businesses and communities, allowing people to work flexibly, be entertained, keep in touch, and access public services wherever they are.
Most homes and businesses across Cambridgeshire and Peterborough can now upgrade to superfast broadband of at least 24Mbps (and often much faster) but there are a range of options to help people cope with poor broadband connections.
Research by Ofcom shows many customers may be paying more than they need to on existing broadband contracts, so it’s always worth checking if you can switch to a better deal.
If you want to upgrade your broadband speed, find out if you can get superfast or faster broadband already by using our postcode checker and visit our how to get better broadband page and follow the steps or find out about the other options available.
Connecting Cambridgeshire is also rolling out free CambWifi. Find out where you can connect for free by viewing a map of CambWifi locations so you can access secure Wifi when out and about
Tips to improve your current speed
Check the Home Broadband Networks guide for advice on how to maximise broadband speeds and capacity while working from home.
One of our long-standing Broadband Champions has provided some useful tips to help improve your current broadband speeds and details can be found on the Increase Broadband Speed Website: INCREASE BROADBAND SPEED Tips and Guides
Social Tariffs – Discounted broadband and mobile phone services
Social tariffs are low-cost broadband and mobile phone package deals offered to customers on benefits and are estimated to cost between £10 and £20 a month. Some providers call them ‘essential’ or ‘basic’ broadband.
Most providers offer reduced social tariffs to both new and existing customers who are claiming government benefits such as Universal Credit, Pension Credit, Jobseeker’s Allowance and Income Support – so you can pay less for internet access and mobile phone bills.
As well as being much more affordable, social tariffs are usually on shorter-term contracts. Plus, there are no early exit fees – so you are not tied to the contract if your circumstances change, and you can leave without paying a penalty.
Head to the Ofcom website for full details including an up-to-date list of all available tariffs.
If you’re not on benefits, there’s also help and advice about how to find out about other cheap deals on comparison websites such as the Money Saving Expert website.
Gigabit Broadband Vouchers and Project Gigabit
Your premises could be eligible for a rural voucher to get faster, more reliable fibre broadband?
In January 2022, Building Digital UK launched their Project Gigabit procurement to find a supplier to connect approximately 45,000 premises in Cambridgeshire and adjacent areas to gigabit-capable broadband. The contract was awarded to CityFibre and work has commenced.
To avoid duplication of government subsidies, the Gigabit Broadband Voucher Scheme has been paused in areas targeted by the procurement.
Areas outside the procurement area may still be eligible for a voucher. To check your postcode, please visit the Gigabit Broadband Voucher Scheme website
