Cambridgeshire is among the first areas in the country to benefit from the UK Government’s £5 billion Project Gigabit scheme, which is bringing lightning-fast gigabit-capable speeds to hard-to-reach areas.
Connecting Cambridgeshire worked alongside the government and helped them consult with broadband infrastructure suppliers about their plans. This was to draw up an intervention area showing all eligible premises in our county that can’t get gigabit speeds and aren’t likely to be covered by commercial plans.
Building Digital UK (BDUK) then launched a Project Gigabit procurement in January 2022 to find a supplier to connect premises in Cambridgeshire and adjacent areas (known as ‘Lot 5’) to gigabit-capable broadband.
It was announced by the Department for Science, Innovation and Technology (DSIT), on Tuesday 21 March 2023, that CityFibre has been awarded the contract to deliver connections to around 45,000 rural homes and businesses as part of the £5 billion Project Gigabit scheme.
Read more about the BDUK contract and view a map of the areas due to be upgraded in the awarded Cambridgeshire contract.
Detailed planning in Cambridgeshire by CityFibre has now begun, and the first Project Gigabit connections have started in early 2024. The whole project is anticipated to take approximately five years to complete. Find out more about CityFibre’s involvement, including their answers to frequently asked questions about Project Gigabit, on the CityFibre website.
Further information about Project Gigabit can be found on the Project Gigabit website and you can find the latest updates on progress via the quarterly updates page and the BDUK website. We also published a news release to welcome the announcement.
How does the Project Gigabit procurement affect the Gigabit Broadband Voucher Scheme?
Some rural community groups in Cambridgeshire had applied for the Government’s rural Gigabit Broadband Voucher Scheme, for funding to install gigabit-capable fibre before it temporarily closed for new applications while the Project Gigabit procurement takes place.
To avoid duplication of government subsidies, vouchers are still paused in areas to be targeted by the Project Gigabit procurement in Cambridgeshire and Peterborough.
Premises in Cambridgeshire and Peterborough that are potentially going to be included in the intervention area for Project Gigabit will not be able to apply for Gigabit Broadband Vouchers until the surveying has concluded and BDUK has determined exactly which premises will be covered by the project. If your premise isn’t included in the Project Gigabit intervention area you may be eligible to apply for a gigabit broadband voucher now. Please note however, if your area is expected to be included in forthcoming commercial rollout plans you may not be eligible for a voucher.
Check your premise on the Gigabit Broadband Voucher Scheme website. In addition, you can speak to local suppliers to see if they have any plans. Where we know, and can share information about supplier plans, we do so on our postcode checker.
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