Project Gigabit is the Government’s £5 billion programme to deliver gigabit-capable broadband to hard-to-reach areas, targeting near-universal UK coverage by 2032. Building Digital UK, who are responsible for managing and delivering the Project Gigabit Programme had awarded a £112 million contract to City Fibre, in January 2024, to connect more than 50,000 rural homes and businesses across Kent and Medway, focusing on communities that would otherwise miss out without government intervention.
Today’s announcement creates unwelcome uncertainty for thousands of Kent homes and businesses who were expected to benefit from this contract – as well as the 80,000 premises who are currently not in any upgrade plan.
Cllr David Wimble, Cabinet Member for Economic Development, said: “We are extremely concerned at the Government’s announcement and I have written to the Minister today asking for an urgent meeting to discuss how exactly the Government plans to turn this situation around, get Project Gigabit back on track and ensure that our residents and businesses can get the connectivity they need.”
“Reliable, high-quality digital connectivity is no longer a luxury – it is a basic requirement for modern life, economic growth and public services. Kent County Council stands ready to work with Government to find solutions – but we need certainty, commitment and urgent action.”
Project Gigabit has been central to national ambitions to level up digital connectivity and according to the Government’s own premise-level data, almost one in four Kent homes and businesses does not yet have access to a future-proofed, gigabit-capable connection. New research commissioned by Kent County Council has also highlighted that only 53% of business premises have future-proofed, gigabit capable connections.
In a letter to the Minister for Digital Economy, Baroness Lloyd of Effra, the Council warns that any loss of momentum in delivering this infrastructure risks leaving thousands of residents and businesses behind. The Council is calling on the Government to provide immediate clarity on its plans, accelerate delivery of these much-needed connections, and work more collaboratively with local authorities.
Notes for Editors
BDUK have ten Project Gigabit Contracts with City Fibre: Bedfordshire, Northamptonshire and Milton Keynes; Bucks, Herts and East of Berks; Cambridgeshire; East and West Sussex; Hampshire; Kent (including Medway); Leicestershire and Warwickshire; Norfolk; Nottinghamshire and West Lincolnshire; and Suffolk.
BDUK formally launched the national Project Gigabit Programme on the 19th March 2021. The latest figures published by Building Digital UK indicate that as of 22 April 2026, 2,320 premises had been connected through their Kent Project Gigabit Contract. Today’s announcement means that out of the 50,000 connections planed, only 8,000 premises will benefit from this contract. The majority of those being removed from the Kent contract are not in line to benefit from commercial build and will still require public funding to connect.
BDUK also regularly survey all telecom operators under their Open Market Review process to identify which premises will not get gigabit-capable connections through industry funded upgrades in line. An analysis of this premise-level data indicates that almost one in four premises across Kent are still waiting for a gigabit capable connection.
