Project Gigabit supplements the commercial rollout of FTTP, with FTTP now available to two in five households, up from one in ten households in 2019.
The government has a target of achieving at least 85 per cent gigabit-capable UK coverage by 2025. Oliver Dowden, the digital secretary, said, “Project Gigabit is our national mission to level up rural areas by giving them the fastest internet speeds on the market.
“Millions more rural homes and businesses will now be lifted out of the digital slow lane thanks to our mammoth £5 billion investment and one the quickest rollouts in Europe. This broadband revolution will create jobs, power up businesses and allow everyone to access vital services at lightning-fast speed, helping us build back better from the pandemic.”
Previous updates on Project Gigabit have included the provision of £24 million to roll out gigabit broadband in ten local authority areas in Northern Ireland, confirmation that 234,000 homes and businesses in Wales are in scope, and £4.5 million to help thousands in central Scotland get next-generation connections.