Voucher scheme to help boost broadband

Small businesses and local communities set to benefit

Residents and businesses in Leicester and Leicestershire are being encouraged to apply to the Gigabit Broadband Voucher Scheme (GBVS) as an innovative way to improve broadband connection.

The vouchers can be used by small businesses and local communities surrounding them to contribute to the installation cost of a gigabit-capable connection. One gigabit is the same as 1,000 megabits – a big leap forward in connection speeds.

The scheme is funded by the Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport and supports the wider government’s commitment to make full fibre broadband available to at least 10 million homes and businesses across the country by 2022.

Leicestershire County Council’s Superfast Leicestershire team, which leads the fibre broadband delivery in the city and county, is encouraging residents and businesses who currently experience slow broadband to check if they are eligible.

The scheme, which offers a £67m investment boost in fibre broadband, means small to medium businesses (SMEs) and some communities will be able to receive up to £3000 in vouchers towards upgrading their broadband service.

This scheme is a great addition to the fantastic work of the Superfast Leicestershire project. Access to affordable broadband is vital for communities and businesses to allow them to grow and thrive. We’re committed to supporting the government’s ambitions and I would encourage all residents and businesses unable to access higher speeds to check if they can benefit from the Gigabit Broadband scheme.

Person:Nick Rushton, county council leader

Superfast Leicestershire is on track to deliver superfast fibre broadband to 96 per cent of Leicester and Leicestershire by the end of 2018, with 65,000 premises already connected.

The Gigabit vouchers can be used to contribute to the cost of the installation of a gigabit capable connection and will support those communities that are yet to benefit from the county council’s broadband project.

Gigabit and full fibre connections are faster, more reliable and cheaper to operate than traditional copper lines, and are capable of supporting much faster speeds, which will serve the UK far into the future. Currently, only around three per cent of UK premises have access to a full fibre connection.

To check if you’re eligible visit gigabitvoucher.culture.gov.uk Opens another website in new window  or to check if you already have a fibre broadband connection, visit www.superfastleicestershire.org.uk/when-and-whereOpens another website in new window