Richard Fuller MP

WORDS FROM

Richard Fuller, MP for North East Bedfordshire

How good and how reliable is your broadband? At home? At work? During my regular surgeries around the constituency and meetings with parish councils I hear of pockets of areas where constituents are still unable to receive a high speed broadband or where service is intermittent.

Access to fast, reliable internet connectivity has become a necessity for many residents and local businesses which was further highlighted by the coronavirus pandemic.

Recent figures show that gigabit broadband is now available for 61% of homes and businesses in North East Bedfordshire, which has trebled since 2019 thanks to the government’s £5 billion Project Gigabit. Nearly all (97%) of the constituency now has access to the lower speed, so called “Superfast” Broadband.

The government accepts there is still more to do to complete the rollout to rural areas such as some areas in my constituency. To meet that challenge, it recently announced that it will triple the value of vouchers available under the Gigabit Broadband Voucher Scheme.

Under this scheme, from early 2023, eligible homes and businesses can apply for up to £4,500 to cover the costs of a gigabit-capable connection. Previously this was capped at £1,500 for homes and £3,500 for businesses. This increased subsidy will enable broadband providers to reach further into rural areas where the build costs can be significantly higher.

The scheme enables households and businesses to club together to increase the total subsidy of a project to cover the costs for installation to eligible areas.

Reliable-fast broadband unlocks jobs and business opportunities. For too long rural communities have been left behind in the digital transition. By tripling the value of gigabit broadband vouchers many rural homes and businesses can benefit from faster connections.

To find out more about the Gigabit Broadband Voucher Scheme, please visit

www.gigabitvoucher.culture.gov.uk