For several years, the Gigabit Broadband Voucher Scheme helped homes and businesses in harder to reach places pay towards the cost of a gigabit capable connection. That door has now closed to new projects. If you were planning to use a voucher, or you run a business in a rural or poorly served area, this guide explains what has changed and what you can do now.
What has happened?
ISPreview reports that the Gigabit Broadband Voucher Scheme closed to new voucher projects on 31 August 2026. The key points are:
- No new voucher projects can be started.
- Projects already under way continue.
- The scheme closes fully on 31 March 2028.
- Vouchers were typically worth up to £4,500.
- Some local authorities may run their own schemes.
The scheme sat alongside Project Gigabit, a £5bn government programme aiming for about 99% gigabit coverage by 2032, according to the same report.
If you already have a voucher project
If your project was approved before the cut off, it should carry on. Voucher projects often grouped several neighbouring homes and businesses together, so if you were part of a community project, your neighbours may already have heard from the supplier. Compare notes, as one update can save everyone a phone call.
Contact the supplier running it to check the timetable and whether anything is needed from you, such as confirming details or giving access for a survey. Keep any paperwork safe in case questions come up later.
If you missed out: your options now
1. Check full fibre availability again
Coverage has grown quickly. Ofcom's Connected Nations spring 2026 update reports that full fibre was available to 24.9 million homes, or 82%, by January 2026, and gigabit capable coverage reached 89%. Ofcom's look at planned network deployments suggests full fibre could reach 92% of homes by January 2029 if all plans go ahead, or 88% counting only the plans Ofcom has high confidence in.
In other words, an address that could not get full fibre a year or two ago may be able to now, or may be in plans. You can check your address in a few seconds. If business full fibre is available, our business broadband page sets out the packages.
2. Consider a leased line
A leased line is a dedicated fibre connection built to your premises. It does not depend on full fibre broadband already being in your street, because the route is planned for your site. It is uncontended, the same speed in both directions, and comes with a service level agreement.
The trade off is cost and time. Leased lines usually cost more than broadband, and rural sites may need more construction work, which can add excess construction charges. Any extra construction cost is confirmed after the site survey, so ask for that before you commit. For a farm business, a rural workshop or a remote office that depends on its connection, it can still be the right answer. Our guide to leased lines and business broadband helps you decide.
3. Ask your local authority
Some councils and combined authorities run their own broadband support or top up schemes. These change over time and vary by area, so contact your council's economic development or digital team and ask what is currently on offer.
4. Keep an eye on Project Gigabit
Project Gigabit funds network building in areas that commercial rollout is unlikely to reach. If your premises are in one of those areas, a contract may already cover you, or may do in future. Ask your council how Project Gigabit is being delivered locally.
5. Add resilience while you wait
If you are stuck on a slower connection for now, a backup can protect you from the worst outages. A mobile router is often a practical choice in rural areas with decent signal. Our guide to backup and failover explains the options.
A North East view
The North East has seen significant investment in fibre. In Sunderland, for example, CityFibre announced a £62m investment in 2021 to bring full fibre to almost every home and business in the city. Coverage across the wider region still varies from street to street, and rural parts of County Durham and Northumberland can be harder to reach. The only reliable way to know what you can get is to check your exact address. Our guide to full fibre in the North East has more on the region.
Find out what is possible at your address
Our team is based in Sunderland and helps businesses across the North East and the rest of the UK. Start by checking your address for business full fibre, or visit our leased lines page to check availability or ask for a leased line quote. If you would rather talk, call us on 0191 543 3432 and we will go through the options with you.