Guidance

Gigabit Broadband Voucher Scheme information

Updated 17 October 2025

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 1Gbps
• 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

The GBVS team makes available to registered GBVS 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 GBVS 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.

GBVS availability

You can find out which areas (also known as Lots) 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. The scheme may reopen in other areas in the future.

If you are in an area accepting new voucher projects, you can contact one of the active GBVS suppliers listed in the table below, or any other registered GBVS supplier, to find out what work may be happening or planned in your area. These suppliers will be able to check if your address is eligible for GBVS funding and advise if they have any active or planned projects which could be amended to include your address. 

If your premises is not eligible for GBVS funding you could still make enquiries with registered GBVS suppliers to see if they have plans to build in your area.

Active suppliers by area

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 registered GBVS broadband suppliers listed have active projects in those areas or are known to UK government as 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	Lot number (labelled on map above)	Active GBVS suppliers in this area
Birmingham and the Black Country	35	Airband E-volve Solutions Exascale Openreach
Cambridgeshire	5	Cambridge Fibre County Broadband Gigaclear Openreach Voneus
Derbyshire	3	Dragon Wifi E-volve Solutions GigaPeak Openreach WeFibre
Dorset	14	Openreach
Greater London	37	Airband AirFast.net Box Broadband B4SH (Broadband for Surrey Hills) County Broadband F&W Networks Gigaclear Openreach Orbital Net Rapid Rural Swish Fibre Trooli Village Networks Voneus Wessex Internet
Isle of Wight	99	Openreach Wightfibre
Merseyside and Greater Manchester	36	Airband Alncom B4RN Freedom Fibre Fusion Fibre Gigaloch Kloud9 Openreach RunFibre Vispa
Newcastle and North Tyneside	38	Openreach
Norfolk	7	Gigaclear Openreach
North East England	4	Alncom Netomnia Openreach
Scotland (Central and North)	39	Cromarty Firth Wireless Networks Gigaloch Highland Broadband Openreach
Shropshire	25	Openreach
Wales	44	Netomnia Ogi Openreach

How do the vouchers work?

Voucher funding is available for residents and businesses through broadband suppliers registered to this scheme who apply for the voucher funding on your behalf. A supplier may already be developing a project in your area to connect you and your neighbours or they may be able to develop a new project if there is enough demand in your community.

The supplier will need to obtain approval from the GBVS team for any project proposal and then request vouchers on your behalf. You will need to agree to the voucher request and the GBVS Beneficiary Terms and Conditions. Funding is only released to a supplier once the network is built and premises are connected. Customers will be asked to confirm their connection is working when the supplier claims the voucher funding from UK government.

Below are the steps you need to follow if you want a gigabit broadband connection through the GBVS:

1. Check whether you’re in an area that is open to new voucher applications shown in the map or table above.

2. Talk to a registered GBVS supplier in your area and check your 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?

3. Sign up for a gigabit-capable connection with your chosen supplier

4. Your supplier requests a voucher from the GBVS team. The GBVS team checks you are happy to go ahead by email.

5. Your supplier gets to work to deliver your new connection.

6. Connected! Your supplier lets the GBVS team know the work is done.

7. 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.

Download the GBVS Supplier Terms and Conditions here.

Auditors

Building Digital UK (BDUK), the part of UK government responsible for Project Gigabit including GBVS, 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 UK government officer may contact beneficiaries via email or phone, to arrange an appointment. They will inspect the installation of the broadband equipment, measure and record the broadband speeds, and assess the standard of the installation.