Marlborough Town Council
Project Gigabit Voucher Scheme
Are you eligible for lightning-fast gigabit-capable broadband?
Gigabit address checker launched in March as rural Britain sees surge in rollout of faster broadband and mobile coverage
People in need of faster broadband can now find out in a few taps if they are due for a government-funded upgrade, thanks to an online address checker
If you, your family and friends live or work somewhere not included in these plans, please read the following and do let them know about this if you think they won't be aware of it.
If a property isn’t currently under plans, 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. It helps homes and businesses upgrade with up to £4,500 per eligible property.
Don't assume that if you live or work in a town or large village that this only applies to rural settings - there may be many reasons why a supplier is not currently planning to install gigabit broadband near your premises (e.g. if it is difficult to access). It only takes a few seconds to check your address: see step 2 below.
Gigabit Broadband Voucher Scheme (GBVS)
The Gigabit Broadband Voucher Scheme (GBVS) helps rural homes and businesses upgrade to fast, reliable full fibre broadband with up to £4,500 per eligible property. The application window closes in August 2026, and projects must include a minimum of two premises so talk to your neighbours and please signpost the information to those of your friends and family who might be eligible but not aware of the scheme!
1. Understand the Scheme
What the scheme does?
GBVS provides government-funded vouchers that suppliers can combine to help cover the cost of building new full fibre networks in rural areas that won’t get gigabit broadband commercially.
This is for properties that receive under 100 Mbps, are not included in a commercial gigabit rollout, and are not covered by any other government funded upgrade programmes. You can check Openreach’s Fibre Checker here to see if your property qualifies.
2. Check If an Address Is Eligible
Residents should complete two checks to confirm whether an address is eligible. First, use the Gigabit Voucher Eligibility Checker and entering the postcode to verify eligibility. Second, check current broadband availability using tools such as the Ofcom Broadband Checker and the Openreach Fibre Checker which provide details on existing coverage and planned upgrades.
3. Build Local Interest
Projects can only progress when enough nearby homes or businesses commit, suppliers such as Openreach often require a community “pledge target” before agreeing to a build.
4. Contact an Approved Supplier
Once there is enough local interest, an approved supplier will review the feasibility of the build, prepare a cost estimate, and set up a pledge portal for residents to register their commitment.
5. Residents Pledge Their Voucher
Residents pledge their voucher by visiting the supplier’s pledge portal, entering their address details, confirming their intention to use the voucher, and agreeing to the required terms, such as ordering a fibre service within twelve months of the network going live. If the pledge target is not met, the project cannot proceed.
6. Voucher Validation
Once enough pledges have been submitted, the Department for Science, Innovation & Technology will email residents asking them to validate their voucher. Residents must complete this validation within twenty-eight days; if they do not, the voucher may be cancelled, though this comes with no penalties.
7. Network Build
If the project is approved, the supplier will schedule the build, which typically takes around eight to ten months to complete, with work carried out either overhead or underground depending on the local infrastructure.
8. Order a Gigabit-Capable Service
Once the network goes live, residents can order full fibre service from any provider using the new infrastructure. The service must at minimum either double their previous speeds if they were below 50 Mbps or deliver at least 100 Mbps if they were already above 50 Mbps, and all orders require a minimum twelve‑month contract.
Useful Links
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Purpose |
Tool |
Link |
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Check GBVS eligibility |
Gigabit Voucher Checker |
https://www.gov.uk/guidance/check-your-gigabit-broadband-availability |
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View broadband coverage |
Ofcom Broadband Checker |
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Check Openreach fibre plans |
Openreach Fibre Checker |
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Community partnership info |
Openreach "Connect My Community" |
https://www.openreach.com/fibre-broadband/fibre-community-partnership/connect-my-community |