Project Gigabit

Government-backed full-fibre broadband rollout to bridge the digital divide

What is Project Gigabit?

As part of Project Gigabit, Building Digital UK (BDUK) has implemented a voucher scheme to help people in rural areas access gigabit-capable broadband speed for the first time.

Traditionally, areas in rural Scotland have been left frustrated with little to no access to reliable and cost-effective internet. And in a world where even your kettle can be hooked up to the net, it’s becoming harder to maintain a comfortable lifestyle without broadband you can rely on.

Unfortunately, installing the digital infrastructure to support a future-proofed and reliable broadband network is costly – and until now, has been prohibitively expensive for most broadband suppliers, leaving most of you who live in rural areas in the dark.

Thankfully, that’s all changing.

Why does it matter?

We’ve all experienced the frustration that comes with slow internet speed, buffering videos and lag. The average UK household uses over twenty internet-based devices, including laptops, games consoles, smart TVs and mobile phones. With all these devices pulling internet data around the clock, you need a high speed broadband connection that can withstand such heavy-duty use.

As we move into more impressive technology such as 8K televisions and internet-heavy gaming demanding higher quality connectivity, ultrafast broadband will be the only way to ensure all devices are connected to an acceptable quality and speed.

What is gigabit-capable broadband?

Gigabit-capable broadband is ultra-fast and reliable broadband using a full-fibre connection (also known as FTTP or FTTH connections). This type of broadband connectivity supports symmetrical speeds, meaning you can expect the same upload and download speeds, unlike traditional broadband where you’ll see much slower uploads.

With full-fibre broadband, fibre optic cables travel all the way from the exchange directly to your home. Most existing BT cables will use fibre up to the cabinet, but the remaining cable is old-fashioned copper; this is where speeds drastically decrease.

Full-fibre allows for speeds of over a gigabit per second – over 20 times faster than standard fibre, in most cases!

How the gigabit voucher scheme works

The scheme’s been set up to provide eligible people with the funding needed to install full-fibre broadband in their homes – effectively allowing customers to get connected without having to pay an installation fee and receive a much-needed gigabit broadband upgrade.

We check if you’re eligible for a voucher
Provide us with your details so we can sign up on your behalf
Once you’ve verified your voucher request, we use the amount towards your installation cost