The UK Government target is for gigabit broadband to be available to 85% of the UK by 2025 and nationwide by 2030. In this context “gigabit broadband” means an internet connection capable of download speeds of at least 1 gigabit-per-second (1 Gbps or 1,000 megabits per second, Mbps). A 1 Gbps download speed would allow a high-definition film to be downloaded in under 1 minute.
The infrastructure needed for gigabit broadband is installed and maintained by network operators such as Openreach and Gigaclear. These operators also sell capacity in their network directly to individuals and business and lease spare capacity to internet service providers (ISPs) such as TalkTalk and PlusNet. It is unlikely that it will be economically viable for network operators to install gigabit broadband to villages like Upton, which is where Project Gigabit comes in. This is a £5 billion programme to support the rollout of gigabit broadband to hard-to-reach areas, delivered by Building Digital UK (BDUK), an executive agency within the Department for Science, Innovation and Technology (DSIT).
If sufficient interest is forthcoming, Airband would install FTTP in Upton as part of Project Gigabit under the UK Gigabit Voucher Scheme. This allows residents (and small businesses) in eligible areas to apply for vouchers, worth up to £4500 each, which go towards the cost of a new gigabit broadband connection; there are no cash alternatives. If Airband have enough vouchers to cover a large proportion of the installation costs, then the scheme would go ahead. There also is a time constraint as BDUK require all schemes to have full, detailed and compliant solutions submitted by August 2026, and all schemes have to be completed by March 2027. Time is therefore of the essence.