The Government has set a target to provide access to Gigabit capable infrastructure for all UK premises by the end of 2025. It is expecting 80% of this coverage to be achieved via commercially funded infrastructure from various operators including Openreach, Virgin Media and other smaller providers. It is likely larger villages such as east Harling will be covered via this route, and several suppliers including County Broadband, Openreach and Virgin Media are implementing across Norfolk.
In terms of the 20% of properties requiring public subsidy it is expecting these will be covered by four routes:
1 – Rural Gigabit Vouchers, this scheme is available now and when it expires at the end March 2021 it is expected to be replaced by another similar scheme. The scheme is for rural premises which will be eligible for up to £3,500 per small and medium-sized businesses (SME) and up to £1,500 per resident to support the cost of installing new gigabit-capable connections (Ultrafast): https://gigabitvoucher.culture.gov.uk/rural/
The scheme requires at least two properties to participate and the more that do, the higher the level of possible grant that may be available. However, if BBfN has a planned solution for a property it will not be eligible for this scheme.
2 – Current contracts across the UK, including Better Broadband for Norfolk (BBfN), but only where properties do not already have access to Superfast broadband (24Mbps+)
3 – Hub model projects based upon learning taken from other programmes such as Local Full Fibre Network (LFFN), demand led interventions for Hubs which will then result in surrounding premises being connected via commercial investment or the use of Gigabit Vouchers
4 – The Government’s Building Digital UK team is developing a new programme called ‘Outside In’. It will directly support the Government’s objective to achieve access to Gigabit capable broadband for all UK properties. Initial work is underway, with further details expected later this year.
