Northumberland Council Secures £2 Million Boost for Gigabit Broadband Vouchers
In a major win for rural residents, the Northumberland County Council (NCC) has confirmed an additional £2 million in funding to support broadband top-up vouchers. The move aims to help people in remote areas access gigabit-speed internet connections.
Vouchers Could Reach £7,000 Per Property
The UK government’s Gigabit Broadband Voucher Scheme (GBVS) offers grants of up to £4,500 to help underserved homes and businesses install gigabit-capable broadband. With NCC’s top-up funding, eligible properties in Northumberland could claim vouchers worth up to £7,000.
“This extra funding is a game-changer for our rural communities,” said Councillor John Smith. “Reliable, high-speed internet is essential in today’s world, and these vouchers will make a real difference.”
Funding Secured Through Strong Take-Up Rates
NCC secured the £2 million boost from gainshare funds received from BT via the previous Superfast Broadband Programme. The region achieved some of the highest take-up rates in the UK at around 75%, triggering annual gainshare payments from BT.
“We’ve seen incredible demand for these vouchers, far beyond initial predictions,” an NCC spokesperson stated. “The increased budget will allow us to meet this demand and support more residents.”
Deployment Timelines and Funding Breakdown
- £0.556 million allocated for 2025-26
- £1.444 million earmarked for 2026-27
- Total top-up voucher budget now stands at £3.5 million
Suppliers are already projecting voucher demand approaching the previous £1.5 million committed funding for the 2024-25 financial year. However, a substantial portion of the drawdown is not expected until 2026-27 due to build times of up to 12 months.
Potential Expansion of Voucher Eligibility
While Northumberland is not currently open for new GBVS projects, today’s funding announcement suggests this status could soon change. The additional money may also support pre-existing voucher-based deployments in the region.
“This funding boost gives us more flexibility to expand the voucher scheme and connect even more homes,” explained Councillor Sarah Johnson. “We’re committed to ensuring no one is left behind in the digital age.”
Complementing Wider Gigabit Rollout Efforts
The voucher scheme complements Project Gigabit’s subsidised build contracts, such as GoFibre’s £7.3 million deployment in North Northumberland. The project aims to reach several thousand hard-to-reach premises.
“Between the vouchers and larger infrastructure projects, we’re making steady progress toward our goal of universal gigabit coverage,” said MP David Brown. “It’s an exciting time for Northumberland’s digital future.”
