Digital Durham

  • About
    • Legal info
    • Phase 1
    • Phase 2
  • At Home
    • Support at home
  • For Business
    • Digital Drive – Digital Transformation Initiative
    • Support for business
    • Case Studies
  • Funding for faster broadband
    • Gigabit Broadband Top Up Scheme
    • Gigabit Broadband Voucher Scheme
    • Broadband Universal Service Obligation – USO
  • Reboot
  • Go faster
  • Contact us
You are here: Home / Gigabit Broadband Voucher Scheme

Gigabit Broadband Voucher Scheme

Broadband funding for Rural Communities

Please note: The Gigabit Broadband Voucher Scheme (GBVS) will pause from 24 September 2021 and reopen towards Summer 2022 (date to be confirmed). The Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport are launching a procurement for the North East of England that will result in gigabit-capable broadband coverage for thousands of properties. The GBVS needs to be placed on hold while DCMS go through the process to contract for this delivery.

As part of the Government’s Rural Gigabit Connectivity programme business and residents in some of the hardest-to-reach places in the UK are eligible for additional funding towards the cost of installing gigabit-capable broadband to their premises when part of a group project.

Rural premises, experiencing speeds below 100 Megabit per second (Mbps), may be eligible for up to £3,500 per small and medium-sized business (SME) and up to £1,500 per resident to support the cost of installing new gigabit-capable connections (subject to eligibility rules).

Properties with speeds of less than 30Mbps may also be eligible for additional top-up funding.

Group projects are when two or more residents and/or SMEs get together to combine their vouchers towards the shared cost of installation. Single connections are not eligible for additional funding. An outline of the process is detailed below.

This image shows the voucher process step by step from finding a registered supplier to the supplier being paid after the work has taken place.

For more information about the scheme go to: https://gigabitvoucher.culture.gov.uk/

Latest News

Tablet prompting user to check broadband speed

Broadband Universal Service Obligation (USO)

Ofcom are expected to launch the Broadband Universal Service Obligation in March 2020. What is

Broadband Open Market Review DCMS Logo

Broadband coverage – Open Market Review

This has now closed. Background The Government wants to have nationwide gigabit-capable

Gigabit Broadband Voucher Scheme Banner

Rural Gigabit Broadband Top-Up Voucher

More funding is being made available to help County Durham’s rural businesses and residents access a

Laptop on desk

Accessing Computer Equipment

Technology has become a huge part of everyday life – such as for communication, work, e-learning,

Broadband Technology Tablet

Alternative broadband options to fixed line

If you find yourself without access to decent broadband speeds – what are the potential alternative

digital.durham@durham.gov.uk
  • Facebook
  • RSS
  • Twitter

Copyright © 2022 · Developed by Durham County Council · Sitemap · Accessibility Statement · Legal info · Log in