Stuart Anderson MP Promotes Gigabit Broadband Vouchers for Shropshire
Homes and businesses across South Shropshire are being urged by Stuart Anderson MP to apply for funding to cover the costs of a gigabit-capable broadband connection. Statistics show gigabit broadband availability stands at just 42% in South Shropshire – compared to 78.5% nationally. Up to £210 million was made available by the last government to help communities with the cost of connecting. Yet, only a third of those eligible in South Shropshire have applied. More than 4,900 premises in 12 villages are yet to do so, according to Shropshire Council.
The Gigabit Broadband Voucher Scheme (GBVS) provides a micro-grant of up to £1,500 for residents and up to £3,500 for businesses towards the cost of installing gigabit-capable broadband through local community broadband projects. It enables households and businesses club together to increase the total subsidy of a project to cover most, or all, of the costs for installation in their area. Over 108,00 vouchers have been used to connect rural homes and businesses with fast, reliable gigabit-capable broadband. It is led by broadband suppliers, who are encouraged to communicate directly with communities to increase awareness of the scheme and develop potential projects. Suppliers are then responsible for communicating with beneficiaries as any project progresses.
In Shropshire, Openreach aim to build a new network across Claverley, Clee Hill, Cressage, Little Brampton, Lydbury North, Morville, Norton, Quatt, Stottesdon, Uppington, Upton Magna and Worfield. It is appealing for residents to check their eligibility and pledge their interest in the vouchers that are being funded as part of Project Gigabit - a £5 billion fund which was launched in 2021 to roll out gigabit-capable broadband to premises across the UK that are not included in suppliers' commercial plans so that rural communities are not left behind. With the programme scheduled to run until 2030, Stuart is calling on residents to apply.
Building Digital UK (BDUK) is working closely with all active suppliers registered on the scheme to identify areas and approve projects in parts of the UK where a voucher-funded project has a good likelihood of delivering gigabit coverage faster than the procurement approach and represents good value for money.
Homes and businesses in locations which meet the following criteria can use vouchers to support the cost of installing new gigabit-capable connections when part of a group project:
- existing available broadband download speeds are less than 100Mbps
- a gigabit-capable network isn’t likely to be built to that area commercially in the near future
- there is no government-funded contract planned or in place to improve your network already
For more information, visit www.gov.uk/government/publications/gigabit-broadband-voucher-scheme-information/gigabit-broadband-voucher-scheme-information.
Stuart Anderson MP said:
“As of April 2024, 81 per cent of UK premises now have a gigabit-capable connection - a huge leap forwards from just 6 per cent in January 2019. Yet, more needs to be done in rural areas. So, I was pleased that the last government made up to £210 million in vouchers supporting the installation of gigabit-capable broadband at homes and businesses in areas such as ours. In Shropshire, only a third of those eligible have applied - meaning 4,900 are yet to do so. Given the rapidly growing importance of digital connectivity in both our work and personal lives, I would urge residents to apply for the help available.”
For very hard to reach premises, in April 2023, the Government announced a capital grants scheme to provide up to 35,000 premises with help to access Low Earth Orbit (LEO) satellite equipment to improve their connectivity. This will be open to premises identified as being unlikely to benefit from an improved fixed line, or fixed wireless access connection.
Signed in March 2020, the Shared Rural Network deal has seen the Government and UK’s four mobile network operators (EE, Three, VMO2, and Vodafone) jointly invest over £1 billion to increase outdoor 4G mobile coverage across the UK to 95% by the end of 2025. Key locations targeted have included Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty across England and Wales with partial or no 4G coverage, such as the Shropshire Hills where a government-funded mast is now delivering a 4G coverage boost to local businesses and community organisations in the local area. Residents and visitors to areas such as Pennerley and Asterton can now benefit from improved connectivity without the need for mobile operators to build new masts. The programme will significantly improve mobile coverage for an extra 280,000 premises and 16,000km of roads.
Update (28.10.2024):
According to the independent website ThinkBroadband.com, 99% of premises in the South Shropshire constituency have access to superfast broadband speeds (>=30 Mbps) and 48% can access a gigabit-capable (>1000 Mbps) connection.
