- Project Gigabit is the UK government programme to extend gigabit-capable broadband to harder-to-reach areas.
- It is delivered through Building Digital UK (BDUK), the government body responsible for the rollout.
- It funds connections in areas where commercial builders would not invest on their own.
- Networks are built by suppliers chosen through a procurement process rather than by the government directly.
- The Gigabit Voucher Scheme sits alongside Project Gigabit to support rural connections.
Project Gigabit is the government programme, run through Building Digital UK, to bring gigabit-capable broadband to harder-to-reach areas. It funds suppliers to build where the market would not, complementing commercial rollout.
Last reviewed: June 2026
What Project Gigabit is
Project Gigabit is the UK government's programme to extend gigabit-capable broadband to areas that commercial builders would not reach on their own. While much of the country is being connected to gigabit-capable networks through commercial investment by Openreach, Virgin Media and altnets, some areas, particularly harder-to-reach rural locations, are uneconomic for the market to build alone. Project Gigabit exists to fill these gaps, using public funding to ensure that fast connectivity reaches places that would otherwise be left behind. It is a central part of the national effort to make gigabit-capable broadband available across the UK.
The programme is significant because it targets precisely the areas where the urban and rural divide is widest. By funding connections where the market will not, it aims to narrow that gap and bring the benefits of fast broadband to communities that need them.
Who delivers it
Project Gigabit is delivered through Building Digital UK, usually shortened to BDUK, the government body responsible for the rollout. BDUK manages the programme, identifies the areas to target, runs the procurement that selects suppliers, and oversees delivery. Importantly, the government does not build the networks itself. Instead, BDUK funds and contracts network builders, who carry out the construction. This means the actual fibre is laid by commercial network operators working under contracts awarded through the programme, with BDUK ensuring the public funding delivers the intended coverage.
| Element | Role | Detail |
|---|---|---|
| Building Digital UK | Delivers the programme | Identifies areas, runs procurement |
| Network builders | Build the networks | Chosen through competitive procurement |
| Target areas | Harder-to-reach premises | Where the market would not build |
| Gigabit Voucher Scheme | Complementary support | Subsidy for rural connections |
What it covers
Project Gigabit focuses on premises that are unlikely to be reached by commercial rollout, predominantly in rural and harder-to-reach areas. The programme is designed to target the gaps left by the market, so it does not duplicate areas where commercial builders are already investing. Coverage is delivered through a mix of contracts covering different areas, building gigabit-capable connections, usually full fibre, to the targeted premises. The aim is that, combined with commercial rollout, the great majority of UK premises gain access to gigabit-capable broadband over time, with Project Gigabit closing the parts of the gap the market cannot.
How the procurement works
A defining feature of Project Gigabit is its procurement process. BDUK identifies areas needing intervention and runs competitive procurements in which network builders bid to deliver coverage in those areas. The supplier that offers the best combination of coverage, value and deliverability is awarded the contract, and then builds the network with the support of the public funding. This competitive approach is designed to ensure the funding is used efficiently and that the chosen suppliers can deliver. The contracts vary in size, from larger regional contracts to smaller local ones, reflecting the different areas being targeted.
Targets and timeline
Project Gigabit supports the broader national ambition for gigabit-capable coverage across the UK. The programme works towards extending coverage to the harder-to-reach premises over a multi-year timeline, complementing the faster commercial rollout in more economic areas. Because the work involves building physical infrastructure to dispersed premises, it takes time, and the timeline reflects the scale of the task. Ofcom Connected Nations reporting tracks gigabit-capable coverage, which shows the combined progress of commercial rollout and the Project Gigabit interventions over time. The exact targets and timelines are set out by the government and BDUK.
How it differs from commercial rollout
The key difference between Project Gigabit and commercial rollout is where and why each happens. Commercial rollout occurs where builders judge there is a viable return, predominantly in areas with enough density to justify the investment. Project Gigabit, by contrast, funds connections specifically where the commercial case is absent, using public money to reach premises the market would not. The two are complementary: commercial investment covers the bulk of the country, while Project Gigabit fills the gaps. This division ensures public funding is directed where it is genuinely needed rather than subsidising areas the market would serve anyway.
The Gigabit Voucher Scheme alongside it
The Gigabit Voucher Scheme works alongside Project Gigabit to support rural connectivity. While Project Gigabit funds larger contracts to build networks across targeted areas, the voucher scheme provides subsidies that help individual homes and businesses, often in groups, contribute towards the cost of bringing full fibre to their specific location. The two approaches complement each other, with the voucher scheme offering a route for communities to drive a connection in areas not yet covered by a Project Gigabit contract. Together they form part of the toolkit for extending fast broadband into harder-to-reach places.
Will it reach your area
For a household wondering whether Project Gigabit will reach its area, the practical step is to check coverage and the programme's plans. The gov.uk and BDUK resources set out the areas covered by contracts and the progress of the rollout, while an availability check shows what serves a specific address now. Because the programme rolls out over time, an area not yet covered may be reached later, and checking periodically is worthwhile. Where an area is not in a Project Gigabit contract and lacks fast broadband, the Gigabit Voucher Scheme and other options remain relevant.
The bigger picture
In summary, Project Gigabit is the government programme, delivered through Building Digital UK, to extend gigabit-capable broadband to harder-to-reach areas that commercial builders would not reach alone. It funds suppliers, chosen through procurement, to build networks where the market will not, complementing commercial rollout and working alongside the Gigabit Voucher Scheme. For households in harder-to-reach areas, it represents a major route to gaining access to fast broadband, and checking the programme's coverage and progress shows what it may mean for a specific location.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Project Gigabit?
Project Gigabit is the UK government programme to extend gigabit-capable broadband to areas that commercial builders would not reach on their own, particularly harder-to-reach rural locations. Delivered through Building Digital UK, it uses public funding to ensure fast connectivity reaches places the market would otherwise leave behind, complementing commercial rollout.
Who builds the networks funded by Project Gigabit?
The government does not build the networks itself. Building Digital UK funds and contracts network builders, chosen through a procurement process, who carry out the construction. So the fibre is laid by commercial network operators working under contracts awarded through the programme, with Building Digital UK overseeing delivery and ensuring the funding achieves the intended coverage.
How does Project Gigabit choose which areas to target?
Building Digital UK identifies premises unlikely to be reached by commercial rollout, predominantly in rural and harder-to-reach areas, and targets those gaps so as not to duplicate where the market is already investing. It then runs competitive procurements in which network builders bid to deliver coverage in those areas, awarding contracts to the best combination of coverage, value and deliverability.
What is the Gigabit Voucher Scheme?
The Gigabit Voucher Scheme works alongside Project Gigabit, providing subsidies that help individual homes and businesses, often in groups, contribute towards the cost of bringing full fibre to their location. While Project Gigabit funds larger contracts, the voucher scheme offers a route for communities to drive a connection in areas not yet covered by a contract.
Will Project Gigabit reach my area?
The gov.uk and Building Digital UK resources set out the areas covered by contracts and the rollout progress, while an availability check shows what serves a specific address now. Because the programme rolls out over time, an area not yet covered may be reached later, so checking periodically is worthwhile. Where it is not covered, the Gigabit Voucher Scheme may be relevant.
How is Project Gigabit different from commercial rollout?
Commercial rollout happens where builders judge there is a viable return, mainly in denser areas, while Project Gigabit funds connections specifically where the commercial case is absent, using public money to reach premises the market would not. The two are complementary, with commercial investment covering the bulk of the country and Project Gigabit filling the gaps.
