Project Gigabit
Source: gov.uk (2025-11-26)

Project Gigabit is the government's programme to enable hard to reach communities to access fast, reliable gigabit-capable broadband.

Project Gigabit is the government’s programme to enable hard-to-reach communities to access lightning-fast gigabit-capable broadband. It targets homes and businesses that are not included in broadband suppliers’ plans, reaching parts of the UK that might otherwise miss out on getting the digital connectivity they need. The government is committed to achieving nationwide gigabit coverage and expects 99% of premises to have access to a gigabit-capable connection by 2032.

Having the fastest, most reliable broadband means households no longer having to battle over bandwidth, and gives people the freedom to live and work more flexibly. Project Gigabit is driving productivity across British businesses, as well as in our schools, hospitals and other public services so they can deliver better outcomes for taxpayers.

As demand for faster internet speeds continues to grow, Project Gigabit will ensure the UK network is fit for the future. Project Gigabit is upgrading the nation with the fastest, most reliable broadband infrastructure on the market, which will meet people’s needs not just today but for decades to come.

Contracts

We have signed over 30 Project Gigabit contracts (https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/project-gigabit-contracts) to deliver gigabit-capable broadband to parts of the UK that are unlikely to be reached by the commercial market alone. The latest progress updates for procuring and delivering contracts can be found here Project Gigabit quarterly updates collection page (https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/project-gigabit-quarterly-updates). For more information about how the UK government is performing with Project Gigabit, view the Building Digital UK (BDUK) performance information (https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/building-digital-uk-bduk-performance-information#project-gigabit-contract-reports).

Gigabit Broadband Voucher Scheme

As part of Project Gigabit, the Gigabit Broadband Voucher Scheme (GBVS) can help people gain access to a faster, more reliable broadband connection in areas not currently in line for broadband upgrades through commercial or existing government-funded schemes.

Eligible homes and businesses can access vouchers worth up to £4,500 to help towards the costs of installing gigabit-capable broadband to their premises.

The scheme is accessible through registered suppliers that provide gigabit-capable broadband connections.

The voucher scheme is only open for new projects to cover premises which are not included within a Project Gigabit procurement or contract and which are not covered by existing or planned commercial coverage.

You can find out more information on the Gigabit Broadband Voucher Scheme page (https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/gigabit-broadband-voucher-scheme-information).

Understanding broadband terminology

What access to a gigabit-capable connection means

Broadband providers may use different terminology when advertising their services. A gigabit-capable connection means a broadband (wired) connection capable of download speeds of at least 1 gigabit-per-second (Gbps) (1 Gbps or 1,000 megabits per second, Mbps). By contrast, superfast broadband is defined as offering download speeds of over 30 Mbps and ultrafast broadband as offering download speeds of over 100 Mbps.

There are different kinds of technologies which can deliver gigabit-capable broadband today. With a Fibre-to-the-Premises (FTTP), or Full-Fibre broadband connection, fibre-optic cables, instead of traditional copper cables, run directly to your home or business, providing higher speeds and a more reliable service. You will need an engineer to install this fibre-optic connection. Depending on your needs, you can choose to upgrade to a full-fibre connection and pay for a speed lower than 1 Gbps. Some providers use other types of cables, such as coaxial cables (which also deliver cable TV), to connect your home to a fibre cabinet and also deliver gigabit-capable broadband.

Wired technologies

Other wired technologies that offer a slower broadband connection:

Asymmetric Digital Subscriber Line (ADSL) Broadband: This broadband is provided through BT copper phone lines. ADSL services are currently available in the UK but will be phased out by 31 January 2027 as part of the broader retirement of the copper-based Public Switched Telephone Network (PSTN) (https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/public-switch-telephone-network-pstn).

Fibre-to-the-Cabinet (FTTC), or Part-Fibre: This is a broadband connection where fibre-optic cables run to a distribution point near your home (a cabinet), and copper cables complete the connection. FTTC or Part Fibre broadband speeds are faster than ADSL but slower than full fibre and the speed of your connection may vary depending on how far the cabinet is from your property. For smaller households and businesses an FTTC connection is adequate to support multi users.

Wireless technologies

Wireless technologies can also provide connectivity at a range of speeds:

Fixed Wireless Access (FWA): This broadband can be used to connect premises via radio frequencies (including via 4G or 5G) instead of cables. It typically provides superfast or ultrafast speeds and sometimes gigabit speeds.

Satellite technologies: With this broadband, satellites are used to transmit signals to a transceiver installed at the premises. It can enhance network resilience by serving as a backup connection and be used to connect remote or very hard to reach areas, where other broadband options are limited. Advances in satellite technology have improved performance with some services now offering ultrafast broadband.

You can check what broadband speeds are available to you on the regulator’s - Ofcom - website (https://checker.ofcom.org.uk/en-gb/broadband-coverage).

The benefits of full-fibre and coaxial broadband

Not all premises currently need gigabit broadband but, some households and businesses can benefit from upgrading to these new technologies now. Benefits include:

Faster speeds: Gigabit-capable broadband allows you to download and upload data much faster than traditional broadband. This means you may experience:

Less buffering and when streaming programmes, or when playing video games

Faster downloads (https://www.uswitch.com/broadband/guides/broadband-download-times/) – a 4Gb High-Definition movie with a 1 Gbps FTTP connection would take 30 seconds compared to around 5 minutes with an ultrafast 100 Mbps FTTC connection and around 18 minutes with a superfast 30 Mbps FTTC connection.

A more reliable connection: Fibre-optic technology (https://www.ofcom.org.uk/phones-and-broadband/coverage-and-speeds/full-fibre-broadband-reaches-more-than-17-million-uk-homes/) (which underpins many gigabit connections) provides a more stable and reliable internet connection, reducing the chances of outages and slowdowns. Fibre-optic cables also have fewer faults (fewer than copper-based networks). In addition, the average time to repair fibre-optic technology is faster than with copper technology.

Support for multiple devices: With faster broadband, multiple devices can connect to the internet at the same time without sacrificing speed or performance. For example, in a home with multiple internet users, a gigabit-capable connection allows you to stream a 4k video, play an online video game and use a tablet all at the same time.

Futureproofing: As internet usage continues to grow, gigabit-capable broadband ensures you are prepared for the future, with the ability to handle increased demand and new technology developments.

You can get more information about broadband speeds on the Ofcom ’s website (https://www.ofcom.org.uk/phones-and-broadband/saving-money/get-more-from-your-broadband/).