Building Digital UK (BDUK), the government agency overseeing Project Gigabit broadband rollout scheme, has released its latest progress update for spring 2024. 

As of the latest update, Project Gigabit is running 37 live contracts and procurements, with a total value of £1.9 billion in state aid. This funding is allocated to help extend coverage to an additional 1 million premises, primarily in rural and semi-rural regions.

The overarching goal of Project Gigabit is to extend networks capable of delivering download speeds of at least 1000Mbps (1Gbps) and uploads of at least 200Mbps to 85% or more of UK premises by the end of 2025. Subsequently, the aim is to achieve nationwide coverage (approximately 99%) by around 2030.

BDUK’s report highlights that nearly 82% of UK premises can now access a gigabit-capable network, with further expansion expected to reach 87-91% coverage by May 2025. However, the focus of Project Gigabit remains on improving connectivity for the remaining rural and semi-rural areas, constituting approximately 20% (5-6 million premises) of the population.

The Scottish government’s involvement in Project Gigabit is looking to bridge the digital divide and ensure equitable access to high-speed broadband across the country. 

The procurement will initially target areas in the Borders and East Lothian this month, aiming to reach over 11,000 premises with gigabit-capable broadband.

Afterwards, additional procurements are slated to roll out in phases throughout the rest of 2024, covering regions such as Dumfries and Galloway, Fife, Perth and Kinross, Aberdeen, Dundee, Moray Coast, Orkney, and Shetland. These initiatives are contingent upon market interest and are integral to expanding gigabit-capable infrastructure in Scotland.

The Scottish government’s Reaching 100% (R100) program has already made new strides in providing gigabit connectivity to over 41,000 premises across Scotland. Leveraging £52.2 million of UK government funding, alongside Scottish government reinvestment, the R100 program continues to address connectivity gaps in hard-to-reach areas.

Recommended reading

• Scotland’s Project Gigabit Rural Rollout on the Horizon
• Project Gigabit Targets Easy-to-reach Homes, Leaves Scotland in the Dark
• Work Starts on First Broadband Contract Under UK Project Gigabit

Moreover, the Gigabit Broadband Voucher Scheme has been useful in facilitating broadband access for homes and businesses outside of commercial build plans. To date, 5,600 vouchers have been utilised to deliver gigabit-capable connections in Scotland.

Despite these achievements, challenges persist, particularly in reaching some of the final premises, which may prove costly to connect.