What is Project Gigabit and why is it so important?
Project Gigabit is the UK government’s ambitious £5billion investment strategy to update the nation’s digital infrastructure. It aims to connect millions of homes and business premises to high-speed, full fibre networks by 2025 and wants total UK coverage by 2030.
Why is Project Gigabit so important?
Former Digital Secretary Oliver Dowden oversaw the launch of Project Gigabit. He explains why it’s so important for the future of the UK.
“Project Gigabit is our national mission to plug in and power up every corner of the UK and get us gigafit for the future,” said Mr Dowden
“That means no more battling over the bandwidth, more freedom to live and work anywhere in the country, and tens of thousands of new jobs created as we deliver a game-changing infrastructure upgrade.”
Prime Minister Boris Johnson believes Project Gigabit is exactly what the UK needs to bounce back from the recent economic shocks caused by the COVID-19 outbreak:
“Project Gigabit is the rocket boost to get lightning-fast broadband to all areas of the country. This broadband revolution will fire up people’s businesses and homes, and the vital public services that we all rely on, so we can continue to level up and build back better from this pandemic.”
Project Gigabit, leveling up, and digital exclusion
Too many towns, villages, and rural areas have little or no access to high-speed internet access. Experts call this a digital exclusion, and it’s a major cause of economic disparities across the UK.
There’s a direct link between a lack of reliable and affordable internet and a lack of employment or educational opportunities. And digital exclusion has even more disturbing consequences. According to research by Gov.UK, digitally excluded people are more likely to suffer from physical and mental health problems. It can also reduce life expectancy by up to five years.
Project Gigabit is building new networks in Britain’s digitally excluded areas to ensure people in these ‘left behind’ towns and villages have the same opportunity as everyone else. It will prevent location or where you happen to be born from being a barrier to personal and professional success.
CityFibre is one of the many AltNets connecting places like Blackpool, Crewe, Aberdeen, and Great Yarmouth to the future.
“Project Gigabit is a welcome accelerant that will propel the UK towards a Full Fibre future, supporting economic growth and leveling up opportunities right across the country,” says Greg Mesch, CEO of CityFibre.
“CityFibre is extending our network even further to reach all of the UK’s rural communities. We’re excited to be a part of this critical programme to ensure no one is left behind in the 21st-century’s increasingly digital world.”
How project Gigabit is helping ordinary people
Lucy Hywel lives in one of those rural areas; it’s a little Welsh village near Abergavenny called Llanddewi Rhydderch. Her old broadband connection was so bad that she would have to drive 5 miles to a friend’s house to do important online tasks, like filing a tax return on time. And her situation was not unusual:
“My daughter, who was due to take her driving test, had to go and sit outside the village hall to revise for her theory test. This was the only way she could get a functional signal. On the day of the test, she was there at 5 am to make sure no one else could take advantage of the limited connection,” revealed Lucy.
Then Liverpool-based full fibre internet provider Broadway Partners came along. Thanks to a grant from Project Gigabit, it was able to build a new network delivering fast and reliable 100Mbps internet to Lucy’s village.
And it was an absolute gamechanger for the whole community.
“The Project Gigabit scheme brought connectivity to retirees, business owners, and families and has enabled us to level up access to technology in the area. It felt very unfair that some people were connected and some weren’t. Now we all have 21st-century access to the internet. It has improved the lives of everyone who took out a contract. It’s exactly what we needed.”
Project Gigabit and AltNet Providers are rolling out new networks across the UK all the time. Enter your postcode into the Broadband Market deal finder to see what packages are available in your area right now.
