Gigabit Broadband Milestone Reached

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17 August 2020 | Updated 14 September 2020

The UK government has demonstrated results from intention to supply high-speed internet connectivity across the UK, with 500 million premises having access to gigabit-capable broadband.

This means that businesses can benefit from download speeds of one gigabyte per second or more. Whilst not always necessary in domestic use, this can enable companies with an online presence or interactivity to process-related tasks much more efficiently.

Minister Warman also launched a new task-force, led by consumer and business groups including Which?, the Federation of Small Businesses (FSB) and Confederation of British Industry (CBI) to drive consumer take-up of faster access to the network.

“Small businesses require reliable, fast, and future-proof connectivity to operate with confidence. Gigabit-capable broadband will enable firms to connect with customers nationally and internationally with ease, develop new ways of using technology to improve their performance, and conduct more business online than ever before."

 

–Mike Cherry

Chair, FSB Nation

Gigabit Broadband Voucher Scheme

The Gigabit Broadband Voucher Scheme is a UK-wide, supplier-led scheme offering vouchers to offset the cost of installing gigabit-capable broadband. Vouchers can only be used when part of a group project. Beneficiaries only pay for the speed they want to use, provided it is at least double the speed they had before and more than 30 Mbps. There have been 44,792 vouchers issued so far through the Gigabit Broadband Voucher Scheme, and of these 29,142 have resulted in a live connection.

This is the most recent step in a saga of digital access investment campaigns to elevate UK business, which will have seen one billion pounds in support by the end of the financial year in 2021. £279 million was delivered through the Local Full Fibre Networks Programme, which funded the first wave of the Gigabit Broadband Voucher Scheme. £200 million was committed to the Rural Gigabit Connectivity Programme, which is funding the second wave. 

Picture: an employee working on broadband infrastructure in a rural location

Gavin and Belinda Keeble run a corporate training business in Cumbria. Gavin said that the new service “has given [them] total peace of mind connecting to the outside world and running an international business from a beautiful and remote part of the UK”. Gigabit connection has “dramatically improved [their] professionalism and capability.”

Businesses and communities are encouraged to check whether they are eligible through a postcode checker on the Gigabit Broadband Voucher Scheme website. If they are eligible they can approach any of the suppliers who are active in their area to apply for a voucher. Registered suppliers can only use the vouchers when they are part of a group scheme that can consist of homes and businesses.

Picture: a laptop, book and mug on a wooden platform in a rural setting.

Article written by Bailey Sparkes | Published 17 August 2020

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