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<p>In March 2021, we launched our £5 billion Project Gigabit to deliver lightning-fast,
reliable broadband across the UK. Project Gigabit’s objective is to level up the UK
by giving hard-to-reach areas access to gigabit-capable internet speeds and, coupled
with commercial gigabit delivery, ensuring almost all of the UK has access to gigabit-capable
internet as soon as possible.</p><p>We have recently signed our first local Project
Gigabit contracts in North Dorset and Teesdale, prioritising delivery to rural, hard-to-reach
premises and to those with the lowest broadband speeds, and we will be awarding further
contracts over the coming months.</p><p>Furthermore, up to £210 million is available
for Gigabit Broadband Vouchers to support rural communities with the cost of installing
new gigabit-capable connections.</p><p>Separately to Project Gigabit, the broadband
Universal Service Obligation (USO) provides the legal right to request a decent broadband
connection, helping to ensure full participation in both society and the economy.</p><p>Since
its launch in 2020, the number of premises eligible for the broadband USO has fallen
from 189,000 to 66,000 as of May 2022. Ofcom estimates that a further 17,000 premises
are currently unable to receive a decent broadband connection, but are expected to
receive an upgrade by a publicly funded rollout scheme within the next 12 months.</p>
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