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Background

The Government wants to have nationwide gigabit-capable broadband as soon as possible. While great progress is being made, the Government is aware it needs to help in the parts of the country that are not commercially viable.

£5bn was committed in the 2020 budget to ensure that all areas of the UK can benefit equally. The funding will be spent through a range of projects known as the UK Gigabit Programme. As part of this, Building Digital UK (BDUK) will fund contracts for suppliers to deliver gigabit-capable wholesale infrastructure to the hardest to reach areas.

Open Market Review with suppliers

Durham County Council are running an Open Market Review (OMR) data collection process for the entire North East of England region alongside BDUK and local council partners. Broadband providers are invited to supply information about their infrastructure as part of the OMR process.

If you have existing network coverage, or plan to build infrastructure within the next three years, we actively encourage you to respond to this OMR. The information will be used to identify a draft ‘Intervention Area’ where public subsidy can potentially be used by Government to deliver gigabit capable broadband, and ensure it is only used in areas where there is no existing gigabit capable infrastructure or future commercial plans to provide it.

Further information is available on the Durham County Council website at: http://www.durham.gov.uk/consultation