Gigabit Broadband Voucher Scheme

What is it and how is it funded?

The purpose of the Scheme is to increase the speed of deployment of gigabit capables within the UK by providing micro-grants to support the cost of new connectivity.

The government are targeting “hard to reach” locations where without some form of public support suppliers will not be able to build gigabit capable networks. Vouchers are the mechanism the Scheme uses to provide these grants.

These grants have a minimum value of £500 and a maximum value of £3,500.

  • For SME Beneficiaries vouchers have a minimum value of £500 and a maximum value of £3,500 and cannot be used to fund any VAT.
  • For Residential Beneficiaries, vouchers have a minimum value of £500 and a maximum value of £1,500 (inclusive of VAT).

Vouchers may only be used to fund the actually incurred cost of providing new gigabit capable broadband connectivity.

Using their voucher, beneficiaries contract with registered suppliers such as Cambridge Fibre for a new gigabit-capable solution under a “Project” which the supplier has registered for a town or village.

These Projects must be registered separately with DCMS by suppliers using the “Project Application”. There is no mechanism by which a grant may be obtained by a beneficiary other than as part of a Project.

Payments of the grants to eligible beneficiaries under the Scheme are made by DCMS direct to registered suppliers, once they have confirmed that new connections have been delivered and the beneficiary has accepted service.

Who qualifies for these vouchers?

Home and businesses in rural locations which meet the following criteria can use vouchers to support the cost of installing new gigabit-capable connections when part of a group project.

  • Existing broadband speeds are less than 100Mbps
  • A gigabit capable network isn’t likely to be built to that area commercially in the near future
  • There is no government-funded contract planned or in place to improve the network already

How does the scheme operate?

GBVS Scheme Diagram

available with support from DCMS

If there are businesses and other residents in your area who want to install a gigabit capable connection you may be able to benefit from a voucher as part of  one of our registered projects. Cambridge Fibre did most of the hard work and has set-up projects in a number of villages which you can join. If you are outside our current planned areas we might still be able to connect you if you team up with local businesses and other residents. As the network grows we will update the project page at cambridgefibre.uk/projects/

To benefit as a home user from a voucher, you must be part of a project. As part of this project, you are able to combine the values of your vouchers.

Register for £1,500 voucher

Full fibre networks such as Cambridge Fibre are the future and getting ready for a gigabit speed is a key step for most businesses.

If you are a small or medium sized enterprise, you may be able to get a gigabit voucher worth up to £2,500 to upgrade your business broadband to a fast and reliable connection over gigabit capable infrastructure.

If you are interested in receiving a voucher please check if Cambridge Fibre is expected in your area.

You can boost your voucher value by joining together with other businesses and residential customers. Once you have a group of other users in your area Cambridge Fibre may be able to pool your vouchers together to subsidise the cost of installing a connection.

Are you eligible for a business voucher?  The SME criteria are:

  1. employs less than 249 people;
  2. has a turnover of less than £50m and/or have a balance sheet of less than £43M;
  3. has received less than €200k (around £120K) in public grants in the last 3 years;
  4. does not have a parent company or linked enterprise which does not meet the above eligibility criteria;
  5. will be ordering broadband service of at least twice the speed compared to the current business grade connection and at least 100Mbps in speed and capable of 1Gbps.
  6. is an SME that complies with the European State Aid rules: ie must have received less than €200,000 in the current and two previous financial years in De Minimis aid – businesses in fishery and aquaculture primary production, processing and marketing of agricultural products, coal, steel and ship-building have different allowances, and must seek approval from the local authority before applying.

Note that you can apply for multiple connections at multiple locations

register for £3,500 voucher

Step-by-step how the vouchers work:

  1. Cambridge Fibre is a registered GBVS supplier and you can sign up for a gigabit capable connection. Cambridge Fibre will check how close their network is, or will be in the next 12 months.
  2. Cambridge Fibre will request a voucher from the government. The government will check if they are happy with the request and send a confirmation email.
  3. Cambridge Fibre gets to work to deliver you connection.
  4. Your home or business is connected! Cambridge Fibre will let the government know the work is done.
  5. The government check by email that your service is live and working.
  6. The government will also do spot checks before they pay, so they may contact you!