Government funding brings gigabit speeds to one million premises

Government funding has enabled 1,006,800 homes and businesses to gain access to gigabit-capable networks since August 2012, according to new data. 

This has been facilitated through the Government’s Superfast Broadband and Project Gigabit rollout schemes.

Most of these premises are in hard-to-reach rural locations including 68,800 in Scotland, 108,800 in Wales and 118,900 in Northern Ireland.

The total includes 5,300 public buildings, including schools, libraries, hospitals, police stations and council offices.

The majority of these premises were addressed through the initial Superfast Broadband scheme (746,500), but a further £77m worth of Project Gigabit contracts were signed today to connect around 32,400 rural premises across Gloucestershire, West and parts of North Yorkshire.

Technology Secretary Michelle Donelan said: “The UK is rolling out gigabit networks faster than any country in the EU, with 8 in 10 premises now able to access upgrades.”