Project Gigabit

Quickline wins government 'Project Gigabit' contract for North Yorkshire

15 May 2024

This initiative aims to bring ultrafast broadband to rural and hard-to-reach areas, ensuring that all residents have access to reliable internet connectivity. Through Project Gigabit, York will see significant improvements in broadband infrastructure, providing faster speeds and greater reliability for homes and businesses alike.

In late January, BDUK (Building Digital UK) announced the contract serving York & West Yorkshire was awarded to Quickline Communications, rural broadband specialists. This £60m contract will subsidise the rollout of Full Fibre broadband to more than 28,000 hard-to-reach rural homes across West Yorkshire and York that have been left behind by commercial rollouts. Read more.

Broadband speeds in York vary widely, ranging from gigabit connections to less than 5Mbps for some residents and businesses. This diversity reflects the different infrastructure and service providers available in the city. To expand this vital infrastructure, the Digital York team is working closely with connectivity providers to expand Full Fibre coverage and support digital inclusion initiatives across the city, leveraging a combination of private sector investment and government funding.

The goal is to improve connectivity for the final 20% of properties that currently lack adequate broadband access. Digital York is currently engaged with Quickline, the contracted provider, and BDUK as they explore opportunities for voucher funding as part of their local area review. You are invited to help identify areas in York that may be suitable for future public funding for gigabit-capable broadband by emailing [email protected].

Alternatively, you can stay informed about Project Gigabit's progress and how it will benefit your community by following Digital York on social media for updates (links accessible via the footer of this webpage), or email [email protected] to subscribe to the 'Digital Digest' newsletter – a quarterly round-up of all the digital connectivity news from York.