East set to get "lighting-fast" broadband as Boris Johnson launches Project Gigabit
Norfolk, Suffolk and Cambridgeshire are among the first parts of the country to benefit from the £5 billion broadband upgrade.
Last updated 19th Mar 2021
People living and working in Norfolk, Suffolk and Cambridgeshire are set to benefit from "lightning-fast" broadband as the first areas targeted for a £5 billion upgrade have been revealed, with work to start in 2022.
As many as 510,000 homes and businesses long plagued by sluggish broadband will be front of the queue, as part of the Government's Project Gigabit scheme.
These include Cumbria, Cambridgeshire, Cornwall, Dorset, Durham, Essex, Northumberland, South Tyneside and Tees Valley.
Firms will be able to bid for contracts on the project from spring, with "spades in the ground'' in the first half of 2022, the Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS) said.
Plans for six more locations - Norfolk, Shropshire, Suffolk, Worcestershire, Hampshire and the Isle of Wight - are set to follow in June, covering a further 640,000 premises.
One gigabit is the equivalent of 1,000 megabits, capable of downloading a high definition film in under a minute.
It comes after the Government had to go back on its election pledge of providing the UK with full-fibre broadband by 2025, instead aiming for at least 85%.
Prime Minister Boris Johnson said:
"Project Gigabit is the rocket boost that we need to get lightning-fast broadband to all areas of the country.
"This broadband revolution will fire up people's businesses and homes, and the vital public services that we all rely on, so we can continue to level up and build back better from this pandemic.''
In addition, £210 million worth of vouchers will be available once again from April 8, allowing eligible residents to ask for up help of to £1,500 and businesses £3,500 towards the cost of installing gigabit-capable broadband.
Some £110 million has been set aside to support GP surgeries, libraries and schools, while the Government also explores how satellite and 5G technology could be used to connect very hard to reach spots, starting with a call for evidence.
The development comes after regulator Ofcom announced that it will not impose price caps on full-fibre connections provided by firms, as part of new rules.
Digital Secretary Oliver Dowden said:
"Project Gigabit is our national mission to plug in and power up every corner of the UK and get us gigafit for the future.''
Local reaction:
Councillor Tom FitzPatrick, cabinet member for innovation, transformation and performance at Norfolk County Council, said: “I am absolutely delighted that Norfolk is among the next batch of areas to be set to benefit from this review announced by the Minister.
“This is another win for our Better Broadband for Norfolk campaign, achieving significant speed upgrades all across rural Norfolk. We are amongst the first locations to benefit from this latest wave of funding which we very much welcome.
“This phase is likely to contain all properties within Norfolk that are not expected to gain access to Gigabit capable broadband via commercially funded programmes or any other initiatives – that’s estimated to be 30 – 35% of all premises. This will bring real benefits to the businesses and residents who will get this boost.
“Implementation would be expected to start in early 2023, which fits well with our third Better Broadband for Norfolk contract, another step in ensuring that Norfolk continues to enhance its digital capability.”
Leader of Suffolk County Council, Cllr. Matthew Hicks said: “I welcome the announcement from Government that Suffolk is going to be included in the first phase of the Government’s UK Gigabit Programme, with the aim of deployments starting by the end of 2022.
"Suffolk has always been at the forefront of implementing Better Broadband with coverage of Superfast Broadband speeds approaching 98% of premises; a new LoRaWAN Innovation Network and the recent announcement of the Port of Felixstowe as a national 5G pilot.
"This announcement will maintain the momentum we have established under the Better Broadband for Suffolk Programme, improving Broadband across the county, with the third phase of our programme due to complete before the end of 2022.
"We’re ready for this exciting new stage of our connectivity journey, bringing full fibre to everyone’s front door and look forward to working with Central Government on the delivery of this vital national infrastructure in Suffolk."