Gigabit Broadband Voucher Scheme information
Updated 8 May 2025
© Crown copyright 2025
This publication is licensed under the terms of the Open Government Licence v3.0 except where otherwise stated. To view this licence, visit nationalarchives.gov.uk/doc/open-government-licence/version/3 or write to the Information Policy Team, The National Archives, Kew, London TW9 4DU, or email: psi@nationalarchives.gov.uk.
Where we have identified any third party copyright information you will need to obtain permission from the copyright holders concerned.
This publication is available at https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/gigabit-broadband-voucher-scheme-information/gigabit-broadband-voucher-scheme-information
The Gigabit Broadband Voucher Scheme (GBVS) is part of Project Gigabit, the government’s programme to roll out fast, reliable broadband to homes and businesses that are not included in suppliers’ commercial plans .
The majority of the Project Gigabit delivery will be through major contracts, providing subsidies to suppliers to extend their gigabit-capable networks to premises that are unlikely to be reached otherwise. The GBVS is focused on helping people upgrade their broadband connections through localised projects, providing small grants for residents or businesses that suppliers can accumulate towards the cost of the network build. The GBVS operates in areas where there is no Project Gigabit procurement or contract, or existing or planned commercial coverage.
Eligible homes and businesses can access vouchers worth up to £4,500 to help towards the costs of installing a gigabit-capable broadband connection.
Who is eligible?
Homes and businesses must meet the following criteria to be considered for a voucher project:
- existing available broadband download speeds are less than 100Mbps
- a gigabit-capable network is unlikely to be built to the area commercially in the near future
- there is no government-funded contract planned or in place to improve the network
- the premises are not vacant/unoccupied or derelict and have not been built in the last two years
BDUK makes available to suppliers an indicative list of eligible premises in areas that are open to voucher projects. Suppliers conduct further eligibility checks and are then responsible for developing project proposals and requesting vouchers.
A project must cover at least two eligible premises, with two or more eligible residents and/or businesses using their vouchers towards the shared cost of installation. Single connections are not eligible for the scheme.
All projects are subject to BDUK commercial and value for money assessments.
New connection speeds must reach:
- at least double the existing speed if the current speed is less than 50Mbps
- at least 100Mbps if the current speed is more than 50Mbps
Business eligibility
In addition to the above, in order to qualify for a business voucher, beneficiaries will be asked to self-certify as a Small or Medium size Enterprise (SME), as defined by sections 465 to 467 of the Companies Act 2006 which can be summarised as:
- up to 249 employees and annual turnover no greater than £36 million; and/or
- an annual balance sheet total not exceeding £18 million
SME beneficiaries in designated high competition locations, defined by Ofcom as Central London and High Network Reach Areas, must also establish the following to qualify for a voucher:
The relevant organisation is no larger than a micro-sized company under sections 384A to 384B of the Companies Act 2006 which can be summarised as:
- not more than 10 employees and annual turnover no greater than £632,000; and/or
- an annual balance sheet total not exceeding £316,000
Beneficiaries will be asked to provide evidence of their status as a SME or sole trader and self-certify that the organisation will have received less than £315,000 in public grants over any period of three fiscal years including the current year, including the voucher contribution.
Not-for-profit and charitable undertakings which qualify as SMEs are eligible in the same way that for-profit enterprises are.
Check eligibility
You can find out if your premises may be eligible for a voucher by checking which areas are open for new voucher projects on the map below. The coloured sections on the map illustrate where there are some premises eligible for new voucher project submissions.
If you are located in an area accepting new voucher projects, you can contact one of the listed active GBVS suppliers in the table below, or any other registered GBVS supplier, to enquire about a new voucher project. These suppliers will be able to conduct further checks against the criteria above to confirm eligibility and advise if they have any active or planned projects which could be amended to include your address.
If your premises is not eligible you could still make enquiries with registered GBVS suppliers to see if they have plans to build in your area.
GBVS area availability and active suppliers
The table below lists the areas where the Gigabit Broadband Voucher Scheme is currently open for new applications, as shown on the map above. The scheme may reopen in other areas in the future. The registered GBVS broadband suppliers listed have active projects in those areas or, in the case of urban locations, are actively interested in pursuing voucher projects in these areas.
There may be other registered GBVS suppliers not listed in this table that are also able to provide connections in the areas specified below. Residents and businesses can approach any supplier of their choice.
| Area open to new GBVS project applications | Location (urban only) | Active GBVS suppliers in your area |
|---|---|---|
| 3 - Derbyshire | E-volve Solutions | |
| Openreach | ||
| 35 - Birmingham and the Black Country | Aldridge | E-volve Solutions |
| Bilston (Wolverhampton) | Exascale | |
| Birmingham | Openreach | |
| Blackheath | ||
| Bloxwich | ||
| Brierley Hill | ||
| Brownhills | ||
| Coseley | ||
| Cradley Heath | ||
| Darlaston | ||
| Dudley (Dudley) | ||
| Halesowen | ||
| Kingswinford | ||
| Oldbury (Sandwell) | ||
| Pheasey | ||
| Rowley Regis | ||
| Royal Sutton Coldfield | ||
| Rushall and Shelfield | ||
| Sedgley | ||
| Smethwick | ||
| Stourbridge | ||
| Streetly | ||
| Tipton | ||
| Walsall | ||
| Wednesbury | ||
| West Bromwich | ||
| Wilvenhall | ||
| Wolverhampton | ||
| 36 - Merseyside and Greater Manchester | Aintree | B4RN |
| Altrincham | Freedom Fibre | |
| Ashton-in-Makerfield | Openreach | |
| Ashton-under-Lyne | TalkTalk Communications Limited | |
| Audenshaw | ||
| Bebington | ||
| Birkenhead | ||
| Bolton (Bolton) | ||
| Bootle (Sefton) | ||
| Bowdon | ||
| Bramhall | ||
| Bredbury and Woodley | ||
| Bury (Bury) | ||
| Chadderton | ||
| Cheadle (Stockport) | ||
| Cheadle Hulme | ||
| Clifton (Salford) | ||
| Crosby (Sefton) | ||
| Denton (Tameside) | ||
| Droylsden | ||
| Dukinfield | ||
| Eccles (Salford) | ||
| Failsworth | ||
| Farnworth | ||
| Gatley | ||
| Golborne | ||
| Greasby | ||
| Hale (Trafford) | ||
| Hattersley | ||
| Haydock | ||
| Hazel Grove | ||
| Heywood | ||
| Hindley | ||
| Horwich | ||
| Hoylake | ||
| Huyton with Roby | ||
| Hyde (Tameside) | ||
| Ince-in-Makerfield | ||
| Irlam | ||
| Kearsley | ||
| Kirkby | ||
| Lees | ||
| Leigh (Wigan) | ||
| Litherland | ||
| Little Hulton | ||
| Little Lever | ||
| Littleborough | ||
| Liverpool | ||
| Maghull | ||
| Manchester | ||
| Marple | ||
| Middleton (Rochdale) | ||
| Milnrow | ||
| Mossley | ||
| Newton-le-Willows | ||
| Old Trafford | ||
| Oldham | ||
| Partington | ||
| Platt Bridge and Abram | ||
| Prescot | ||
| Prestwich | ||
| Radcliffe | ||
| Rainford | ||
| Reddish | ||
| Rochdale | ||
| Romiley | ||
| Royton | ||
| Sale | ||
| Salford | ||
| Shaw (Oldham) | ||
| St Helens (St Helens) | ||
| Stalybridge | ||
| Standish | ||
| Stockport | ||
| Stretford | ||
| Swinton (Salford) | ||
| Tyldesley | ||
| Uppermill | ||
| Urmston | ||
| Walkden | ||
| Wallasey | ||
| West Kirby | ||
| Westhoughton | ||
| Whitefield | ||
| Wigan | ||
| Worsley | ||
| Wythenshawe | ||
| 37 - Greater London | Barking and Dagenham | Openreach |
| Barnet | Trooli | |
| Bexley | ||
| Brent | ||
| Bromley | ||
| Buckhurst Hill | ||
| Camden | ||
| Chigwell | ||
| City and County of the City of London | ||
| City of Westminster | ||
| Croydon | ||
| Ealing | ||
| Enfield | ||
| Greenwich | ||
| Hackney | ||
| Hammersmith and Fulham | ||
| Haringey | ||
| Harrow | ||
| Havering | ||
| Hillingdon | ||
| Hounslow | ||
| Islington | ||
| Kensington and Chelsea | ||
| Kingston upon Thames | ||
| Lambeth | ||
| Lewisham | ||
| Merton | ||
| Newham | ||
| Redbridge | ||
| Richmond upon Thames | ||
| Southwark | ||
| Sutton (Sutton) | ||
| Tower Hamlets | ||
| Waltham Abbey | ||
| Waltham Cross | ||
| Waltham Forest | ||
| Wandsworth | ||
| Warlingham | ||
| 39 - Scotland | Aberdeen | Highland Broadband |
| Dundee | Openreach | |
| Edinburgh | ||
| Glasgow | ||
| Glenrothes | ||
| 99 - Isle of Wight | Openreach | |
| Wightfibre |
How do the vouchers work?
Businesses or residents that are eligible for the GBVS can access vouchers through one of the named broadband suppliers in the table above.
Voucher funding can only be used through a broadband supplier registered to this scheme as part of a project shared with your neighbours. A supplier may already be developing a project in your area or they may be able to develop a new project if there is enough demand in your community.
The supplier will need to develop a project proposal to connect you and your neighbours and then request vouchers on your behalf. Funding is only committed when a voucher requested on your behalf has been approved by the GBVS team, with confirmation of your agreement to the scheme’s terms and conditions.
Below shows the step-by-step process to activate a voucher:
-
Check whether you’re in an area that is open to new voucher applications
-
Talk to a registered supplier in your area and confirm eligibility - are they getting a voucher project together? Yes - Ask to be part of the project. No - why not try and gather community interest together with a supplier?
-
Sign up for a gigabit-capable connection with your chosen supplier
-
Your supplier requests a voucher from the GBVS team. The GBVS team checks you are happy to go ahead by email
-
Your supplier gets to work to deliver your new connection
-
Connected! Your supplier lets the GBVS team know the work is done
-
The GBVS team check with you by email that the service is live and working (and may make further checks before the supplier is paid)
Suppliers
To register with the scheme, a supplier must be able to supply gigabit-capable connectivity to customers. Suppliers wishing to register will need to complete an online application form.
Suppliers can register for the Gigabit Broadband Voucher Scheme on the dedicated supplier platform for the scheme.
The GBVS Supplier Terms and Conditions can be found on this page.
Auditors
Campbell & Kennedy Maintenance Ltd are our appointed compliance agent for the Auditing of Broadband Installations for Building Digital UK (BDUK). Further detail on Campbell & Kennedy can be found here.
Campbell & Kennedy Ltd may perform compliance audits to ensure that a supplier’s services to beneficiaries have been delivered in line with the Broadband Installations for BDUK under the Gigabit Broadband Voucher Scheme (GBVS) terms and conditions.
A member of their team may contact beneficiaries via email or phone, to arrange an appointment. Their auditor will inspect the installation of the broadband equipment, measure and record the broadband speeds, and provide a report to feedback the standard of the installation to BDUK, which is an Executive Agency to the Department for Science, Innovation and Technology.