UK Gov Launch Address Checker for Project Gigabit Broadband Rollout

The Government’s Building Digital UK (BDUK) agency has today launched a new address checker, which enables homes in England and Wales to see whether they’ll be able to benefit from the roll-out of gigabit-capable broadband networks under their publicly funded £5bn Project Gigabit programme. But at the time of writing it’s “currently unavailable due to a technical problem“.

The project aims to help extend gigabit broadband (1000Mbps+) ISP networks to reach “nationwide” coverage (c.99% of UK premises) by 2032, focusing mostly on the final 10-20% in hard-to-reach areas. Some 90% of premises can already access such a network (here) and Ofcom are forecasting that this could reach up to 97% by January 2028 (here). Despite this, there are concerns that a funding shortfall might cause further delays (the target was originally 2030).

The new availability checker is said to be coming just as the “UK government’s rollout ramps up across the UK with Project Gigabit now rolling out to over 750 premises per day – the fastest rate since the programme launched in 2021.” Just to be clear, this deployment is actually being conducted by several contracted network operators and not the government itself (e.g. Openreach, GoFibre, Wessex Internet, CityFibre, Quickline and more). See the latest contract progress.

Otherwise, the new GOV.UK service allows people in England and Wales to enter their postcode to instantly see if their home or business is covered by existing rollout plans, whether through the Project Gigabit scheme or the telecoms industry’s own commercial plans. Now quite why it’s taken them several years to do something like this is unclear, but perhaps it’s a case of better 5 years late than never? You be the judge.

However, in true government fashion, just as we went to give this a test, the service returned an error: “Update – 13 March 2026, 00:40. The address checker is currently unavailable due to a technical problem. Please check back later.” Great start.

Liz Lloyd, UK Telecoms Minister, said:

“Many rural communities have long struggled to do even the basics online due to slow internet speeds. Now, hundreds of households and companies are receiving government-funded upgrades every day – helping those who would otherwise miss out.

Our new address checker puts power in people’s hands to instantly find out when faster broadband is coming to their doorstep, helping them seize the opportunities of the digital age no matter where they live or work.”

As you’d expect the new tool includes the usual health warning about Project Gigabit’s deployment plans being tentative and subject to change, which is as much a reflection of the variability of each individual contract as it is of the fact that some contracts have recently been scaled-back, scrapped or switched suppliers due to wider market strains (here, here, here and here). “Data will be updated every 4 months. As part of the processing of data from external sources, we cannot guarantee complete accuracy of the gigabit broadband status of an address,” says the checker’s page.

For any premises that are not covered by current plans, the checker will instead redirect you to Ofcom to see which broadband suppliers are active in your area. People can then contact them to register their interest in an upgrade, which will help to demonstrate demand in their area and may help them decide to expand their rollout. “Even if a property isn’t currently under plans, there are further Project Gigabit contracts due to be announced in the coming months,” added the government.

At this point the announcement briefly goes on to mention how the partially government funded Shared Rural Network (SRN) programme has separately built or upgraded 123 UK mobile masts to provide 4G coverage from all mobile network operators, including 50 in Wales, 43 in Scotland and 30 in England.

In addition, we also get a list of the Project Gigabit areas that Openreach are currently building in (they account of £1.2bn of the programme), which seems to ignore all of the other contracted network operators that are also involved in the programme.

Openreach’s Active Project Gigabit Builds

The information included in below reflects Openreach’s plans at the time of publication.

Hertfordshire: Hatfield, Ware Park, Wadesmill

Lancashire: Clayton le Dale, Briercliffe, Southfield, Pleasington, Tockholes, Oswaldtwistle, Great Harwood, Pendleton, Clitheroe, West Bradford, Waddington, Bashall Eaves, Whalley, Whalley Banks, Blacko, Turton, Belmont, Holcombe, Ormskirk, Scarisbrick, Leyland, Nateby, Scorton, Inskip, Longton, Hutton, Tarleton, Mere Brow, Hundred End, Hesketh Bank, Whittle‑le‑Woods, Southport

Surrey: Bisley, West End (Woking), East Clandon, Lower Eashing, Milford, Pirbright, Enton, Betchworth

Wiltshire: Sutton Benger, Brinkworth, Oaksey, Baydon, Clatford

Staffordshire: Wolseley Bridge, Tixall

Devon: Chulmleigh, Winkleigh, Harracott, Kentisbury, Combe Martin, Berrynarbor, Umberleigh, High Bickington, Chapelton, Atherington, Burrington, Dunkeswell, Burlescombe, Rockbeare, Bradninch, Newton St Cyres, Cowley

Somerset: Clapton in Gordano, Clevedon, Hewish, Rolstone, Potters Hill, Brockley, Backwell, Barrow Gurney, Winscombe, Winscombe Hill

Gwynedd: Tal‑y‑llyn, Tywyn, Bryncrug, Mynydd Nefyn, Rhydyclafdy

Swansea: Reynoldston, Knelston

Neath Port Talbot: Rhiwfawr

Montgomeryshire: Llanfair Caereinion, Llangyniew, Dolanog, Cyfronydd

Ceredigion: Rhos‑y‑garth

Wrexham: Brymbo, Ffrith, Penley, Wrexham, Hanmer, Halghton, Horsemans Green

Conwy: Cerrigydrudion, Llanddulas, Abergele

Shropshire: Much Wenlock, Six Ashes, Coton, Bridgnorth, Quatt, Quatford, Cantern Bank, Eardington, Oldbury

Project Gigabit Broadband Coverage Checker
https://www.gov.uk/guidance/check-your-gigabit-broadband-availability