UK begins 1Gb broadband trials

The UK government has started trialling 1 Gigabit broadband, marking the start of a £200 million (€218 million) scheme to introduce the UK’s “fastest and most reliable broadband”.

The first stage of the project launches today with six local pilots in: Aberdeen and Aberdeenshire; West Sussex; Coventry and Warwickshire; Bristol, Bath and North East Somerset; West Yorkshire; and Greater Manchester.

The move is the first step in a four-year plan to encourage the growth of fibre in the UK, as part of a £200 million programme that was unveiled by chancellor of the exchequer, Philip Hammond, in the spring budget.

Each of the six initial projects will get around £10 million to test ways of connecting offices and public sector buildings with full fibre networks that run straight to home and businesses premises.

“We want to see more commercial investment in the gold standard connectivity that full fibre provides, and these innovative pilots will help create the right environment for this to happen,” said minister of state for digital, Matt Hancock.

“To keep Britain as the digital world leader that it is, we need to have the right infrastructure in place to allow us to keep up with the rapid advances in technology now and in the future.”

The exchequer secretary to the treasury, Andrew Jones, said: “How we live and work today is directly affected by how good our broadband connection is.

“Reliable connections enable new industries to flourish, help create jobs and give people flexibility in how and where they work. For our economy to thrive, it is vital we make smart investments to ensure our digital infrastructure is world class and fit for the future.”