Project Gigabit: How the UK will Transform Rural Communities

Significantly expanding Project Gigabit aims to help the UK government achieve nationwide broadband coverage by 2030, whilst also supporting economic growth and digital inclusion. 

Rural communities across the UK are now set for broadband transformation, supported by new contracts with Openreach worth £289m (US$355m), as the government has announced a significant expansion of the initiative. It hopes to deliver gigabit-capable broadband to more than 131,000 homes and businesses in remote areas and currently underserved regions, including Wales and the North East of England.

The expansion builds upon the existing success of Project Gigabit, which has already connected 1.1 million hard-to-reach locations, bringing the UK's total gigabit coverage to 85%. This positions the government firmly on track to achieve its ambitious target of full gigabit coverage by 2030.

“We are determined to deliver the infrastructure this country needs to thrive, and I am thrilled to see so many homes and businesses in all areas of the country getting access to the fastest broadband speeds on the market through Project Gigabit,” Technology Secretary Peter Kyle commented in a press release. 

“As part of this government’s Plan for Change, we will plug digital divides, helping to make the UK a more equal society where everyone is given a fair shot in life.”

Moving beyond basic connectivity

Project Gigabit is a government initiative designed to enable hard-to-reach communities access fast and reliable gigabit-capable broadband. 

It targets economic regeneration in rural communities, with the enhanced infrastructure hoping to support remote healthcare delivery, distance learning and expanded employment opportunities. The project also hopes to enable businesses to compete effectively in the digital economy. 

As a result, the project could reduce isolation in remote areas through high-quality video communications and support for uninterrupted streaming services, even with multiple connected devices. 

The timing of this project coincides with working methods continuing to change in the wake of the pandemic. Sachin Agrawal, UK Managing Director at Zoho Corporation, notes: “Investment and improvement in rural connectivity provides businesses with greater choice when selecting office locations and gives them the option to move away from crowded urban centres and reduce overheads.

“Alongside cost savings, this also improves flexibility for employees who can be closer to their families.”

The rollout of Project Gigabit has to confront a range of geographical challenges, from the Isle of Anglesey to the Shropshire Hills in the UK. Its comprehensive approach aims to ensure that rural communities can access the same digital opportunities as their urban counterparts, fostering economic growth and social inclusion across previously disconnected regions.

“As part of delivering high-speed internet across the UK, LINX is committed to working with industry partners, providing low latency peering services to deliver the best connectivity for their end users,” says Jennifer Holmes, CEO of LINX.

Creating new digital hubs

However, industry experts emphasise that the deployment of infrastructure represents only part of the solution. In response, telcos and networking organisations are working with the government to ensure successful rollout.

“At LINX, we are seeing UK Internet Service Provider members significantly increasing their capacity as data demand continues to surge,” Jennifer adds. “To maintain fast connectivity, efficient systems to manage data traffic and cope with rising demand are essential. 

“Without these systems, users may still face low speeds and higher latency despite the investment.”

Four years in and the spend of Project Gigabit has reached £2.2bn (US$2.7bn), with the implementation strategy involving partnerships with multiple service providers to ensure competitive service delivery and successful digital transformation.

A multi-vendor approach is designed to accelerate deployment while maintaining service quality and cost-effectiveness. Likewise, making high-speed connectivity more readily available could better support businesses outside of major UK cities, which the government hopes will lead to more digital hubs and business growth.

Sachin adds: “The success of regional businesses relies on fast, reliable connectivity, paired with technology to enable real-time communication and collaboration. 

“The combination of internet connectivity and unified systems that bring data together and facilitate constant collaboration play an important role in delivering a seamless employee experience, promoting collaboration regardless of location.”

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