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Gigabit Broadband Voucher Scheme (GBVS)
The Gigabit Broadband Voucher Scheme (GBVS) is a subsidy for hard-to-reach businesses eligible to extend the full fibre network into their properties. There’s £4,500 per business available for remote and rural businesses lacking a fast connection; you only need to be in an area where the scheme is available to meet the eligibility criteria.
This article provides up-to-date practical information to ensure you don’t miss the opportunity!
Contents:
What is the Gigabit Broadband Voucher Scheme (GBVS)?
The Gigabit Broadband Voucher Scheme (GBVS) is a UK government programme that provides subsidies for hard-to-reach businesses and homes to extend the full fibre network to their premises.
It started in March 2018 and re-vamped with fresh capital in 2021 as part of Project Gigabit, a £5 billion initiative to accelerate full fibre broadband rollout and ensure that at least 85% of premises achieve Gigabit (1,000 Mbps) business broadband speeds by the end of 2025.
The programme currently offers vouchers worth up to £4,500 per business (or £1,500 for homes) to help cover the cost of the network extension.
Applications are only accepted for groups or clusters of small and medium businesses (SMEs) and/or homes, as the vouchers can be pooled together into a larger pot to pay for the expensive extension.
Registered supplier assess the technical and financial feasibility of the works based on the amount of pooled resources and then apply on your behalf. They can also tap onto any other resources local authorities offer, such as incentives or top-ups.
Where is the Gigabit Broadband Voucher Scheme (GBVS) available?
Unfortunately, not all areas of the UK are currently open for new voucher projects.
As of September 2024, the voucher scheme is only available in the following green-shaded regions:
What registered suppliers are available?
Only the following business broadband providers and network operators are registered for the voucher scheme in the six regions where it is currently available:
| Area Open to New Voucher Scheme Applications | Active Gigabit Voucher Scheme Suppliers |
|---|---|
| North East | |
| Birmingham and the Black Country | |
| Merseyside and Greater Manchester | |
| Greater London | |
| Newcastle and North Tyneside | |
| Isle of Wight |
Who is eligible for the Gigabit Broadband Voucher Scheme (GBVS)?
The Gigabit Broadband Voucher Scheme (GBVS) is only available to small and medium-sized businesses (SMEs) in underserved areas.
Here is the exact eligibility criteria for businesses:
| Eligibility Criteria | Details |
|---|---|
| Location | Must be in rural, hard-to-reach areas not covered by commercial gigabit rollouts. |
| Business Size | Business must have fewer than 249 employees. |
| Financial Criteria | Annual turnover under £36 million or balance sheet total below £18 million. |
| Existing Broadband Speed | Must currently have a connection speed below 100Mbps. |
| Connection Requirements | New connection must be at least double current speed if below 50Mbps, or at least 100Mbps if above. |
| Voucher Value | Up to £4,500 per business to contribute to installation costs. Location-based top-ups may be available. |
| Group Project Requirement | Vouchers must be pooled with other businesses or homes in the area; individual connections are not eligible. |
| Special Drawing Rights | Must self-certify that less than €325,000 in public grants has been received over the past three years. |
| Application Process | Supplier-led: Registered broadband suppliers (e.g., Virgin, Sky, TalkTalk) apply on behalf of eligible businesses. |
| NGOs | Not-for-profit and charitable organisations which qualify as SMEs are also eligible under the same rules. |
Funding for Gigabit Broadband Voucher Scheme (GBVS)
The government has allocated 4.2% (£210 million) of Project Gigabit’s budget to extend the scheme (which originally started in 2018) until the financial year 2027-2028.
The maximum value of each voucher is £4,500 for businesses and £1,500 for homes. This covers the supplier’s costs for the network installation but may be less depending on circumstances, such as:
- Distance of new fibre cable needed.
- Complexity of works (road closures, difficult terrain).
- Amount of pooled vouchers.
- Availability of extra financing (See below).
Top-ups and other funding
Businesses looking to improve their broadband should contact their local, regional or devolved authorities to ask if there is any additional funding besides the national voucher scheme.
For instance, the Scottish government offers its own standalone voucher scheme (R100 Scottish Broadband Voucher Scheme) which cam be used in combination with the national voucher scheme (Note: currently not available in Scotland).
Some local authorities in England and Wales have been known to provide independent or top-up funding to supplement the voucher, increasing the amount available for eligible installations.
This is crucial to levelling up excluded businesses like those without neighbouring premises to pool enough resources, larger business with over 250 employees or large profits, or where the network extension is simply too distant or complicated.
How do you apply to the Gigabit Broadband Voucher Scheme (GBVS)?
If you are an SME outside the Gigabit network, follow our step-by-step application guide:
1. Confirm availability and eligibility: Check if the voucher scheme is available in your area here. If it is, confirm your eligibility by looking at our comprehensive criteria list.
2. Contact a registered supplier: Check who is available in your area and ask them to assess whether a voucher project is feasible in your community or if an existing project can be joined.
3. Form a group: Contact and group the owners of adjacent properties who may want to pool their voucher scheme to subsidise extending the network. Work together with the supplier(s) until an agreement is reached.
4. Sign up: Read the terms and conditions and sign a business broadband contract with your chosen supplier. Your supplier will request a voucher from the government’s GBVS team on your behalf, and you will need to agree with them that you want to proceed through an official communication.
5. Installation: As part of the installation, your supplier will need to extend the fibre network all the way into your business broadband router. This may take weeks to months, depending on their availability and the complexity of the work. Terms and conditions usually state that the installation must be completed within 12 months of voucher issuance.
6. Connection: You will be connected to your new Gigabit connection as soon as the work is finished. The GBVS team will contact you at least once to check that your connection works as required. Once satisfied, they will pay the subsidy directly to your supplier.
7. Audits: The appointed compliance agent, Campbell & Kennedy Maintenance Ltd may perform a compliance audit to ensure your service is being delivered according to all necessary terms and conditions. They may ask to visit your property and do a physical inpsection.
Gigabit Broadband Voucher Scheme (GBVS) – FAQs
Our business broadband experts answer commonly asked questions on the Gigabit Broadband Voucher Scheme.
How long is the Gigabit Broadband Voucher Scheme available?
The Gigabit Broadband Voucher scheme is a key part of Project Gigabit, which has committed its funding until the year 2027-28.
While further extensions are possible to connect remaining hard-to-reach areas, the growing success of satellite business broadband like Starlink and OneWeb might reduce the government’s need to extend the scheme further. These alternatives could play a significant role in bridging the digital divide in the future.
How long does a Gigabit Broadband Voucher Scheme application take?
The application process can take several weeks. First, the supplier must assess the project’s feasibility, often requiring a site visit. Once this is complete, the government’s GBVS team can take up to 28 days to review and approve the project proposal.
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