Gigabit Broadband Voucher Scheme Closes to New UK Projects

The Government’s Building Digital UK (BDUK) agency has confirmed that their long-running Gigabit Broadband Voucher Scheme (GBVS), which offered grants to help those in digitally disadvantaged areas get significantly faster internet connections installed, has now closed to the submission of new voucher projects.

The GBVS typically offered grants worth up to £4,500 to help both rural and some poorly served urban premises (homes and businesses) to get a gigabit-capable broadband (1Gbps) ISP network installed. This was available to areas that only had access to significantly slower broadband speeds – assuming there were no near-term plans for a gigabit deployment in the same area (either via private investment or publicly subsidised).

However, back in early 2024 it was announced that the GBVS would be closed on 31st March 2028 (here), which at the time meant the final date that vouchers could be issued to suppliers was 31st March 2027 (i.e. this allows for the usual 12-month network build window to run its course). But BDUK did later tweak the rules to allow some vouchers to be issued beyond March 2027, although the option for such an extension was removed on 31st July 2026.

The key development this week is that, since 31st August 2026, suppliers can no longer submit any new voucher project proposals to BDUK for the few UK areas that remained open to the scheme. Delivery of existing projects will of course continue until the closure date, but we are now in the final stretch as the scheme itself is being slowly wound-down.

Back in June 2026 we reported that both past and present voucher schemes had so far helped 384,810 premises (passed) gain access to faster broadband (here). But past March 2028 it appears likely that the government may end up adopting a different approach to help resolve any remaining gaps in gigabit connectivity, such as those that are expected to remain once Project Gigabit completes in 2032.

Take note that the closure of the GBVS doesn’t prevent local authorities and devolved regional governments from continuing to run their own voucher schemes with their own funding.