Project Gigabit framework agreement – Openreach
BDUK has signed a cross regional framework agreement with broadband provider, Openreach, to deliver gigabit-capable broadband to premises across Great Britain.
Building Digital UK (BDUK) has carried out significant market engagement across the UK to identify potential areas for government intervention to roll out gigabit-capable broadband.
Following a fair and open procurement process, in 2024 BDUK signed a framework agreement with Openreach to provide hard-to-reach premises with access to gigabit-capable broadband.
The cross-regional framework predominantly delivers to rural premises that are not included in any supplier’s commercial rollout, in areas where there was insufficient appetite, credibility or capacity from suppliers to bid for smaller procurements. The framework will allow the delivery of multiple call-off contracts, covering premises in different clusters of geographic regions of the UK.
Eight call-off contracts have been awarded under the framework, covering premises in the following areas:
| Procurement name | Contract value | Contracted premises | Contract signature date | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Call-Off 1 - Lancashire, West Berkshire, Staffordshire, Surrey, Hertfordshire, Wiltshire and Gloucestershire | £159.2 million | 51,820 | 28 June 2024 | |
| Call-Off 2 - Devon, Mid Wales and South East Wales | £137.2 million | 41,140 | 28 June 2024 | |
| Call-Off 3 - North Herefordshire, North Wales, Shropshire and South West Wales | £150.5 million | 65,120 | 19 December 2024 | |
| Call-Off 4 - South Devon, Mid Devon and North Somerset | £77 million | 37,110 | 19 December 2024 | |
| Call-Off 5 - Essex and North East England | £70.3 million | 24,710 | 19 December 2024 | |
| Call-Off 6 - Rest of Scotland | £175.5 million | 77,640 | 15 April 2025 | |
| Call-Off 7 - Worcestershire | £41.9 million | 22,600 | 19 December 2024 | |
| Call-Off 8 - Cheshire | £37.5 million | 18,460 | 26 February 2026 |
Further procurement procedures are underway for additional call-offs under the agreement.
BDUK and councils across Great Britain will work with Openreach to support their network build. An amount of preparatory and planning work is required to reach premises (for example, digging trenches, laying duct, installing fibre) prior to citizens being able to access services. Once the gigabit-capable network has been built, residents and businesses will be able to request a connection from a broadband service provider to benefit from the improved speeds.
Please note the premises to be reached by these contracts is subject to change following further market research which may indicate that a connection has already been provided by another provider, or through extraordinary engineering difficulties during the lifetime.
Further detail on the premises due to be upgraded as part of these contracts can be viewed using the online address checker. This service is for England and Wales only. There are different services available for Scotland or Northern Ireland.
If your premises is not currently within the planned contract build, this may be for one of the following reasons:
-
Gigabit-capable infrastructure currently exists in your area.
-
Your premises is part of another Project Gigabit contract or other subsidy scheme.
-
Broadband network suppliers have indicated to us as part of our Open Market Review process that they have plans to reach you as part of their commercial build plans.
-
Your premises is outside of the scope of this project owing to cost or difficulty in reaching it with gigabit-capable infrastructure. The government is considering additional policy solutions for ‘Very Hard to Reach’ premises.
Further information about Project Gigabit can be found on the BDUK website and under Project Gigabit: UK Subsidy advice.
Updates to this page
-
Map for call-off eight (Cheshire) added to table.
-
Call-off eight (Cheshire) details added to page.
-
Update to call-off 3 to include Mid West Shropshire
-
On 01 May 2025 contract information and a map were added for Scotland.
-
On 8th January 2025 contract information and maps were added for the following areas: East and South Shropshire, North Herefordshire, North Wales, and South West Wales, Mid Devon, North Somerset, and South Devon, Essex and North East England and Worcestershire
-
Maps added for the following areas: East and South Shropshire, North Herefordshire, North Wales, and South West Wales, Mid Devon, North Somerset, and South Devon, Essex and North East England and Worcestershire
-
First published.