UPDATE 5 (28/03/2021) - Superfast Fibre Broadband Project for Throwley

In my previous update, I wrote that Openreach did not provide the final quote before the shortened deadline for submission to BDUK (Building Digital UK) of 19th February, so Throwley was out of the race. Subsequently, I have learned that Openreach did submit the final quote at the last minute, and the application went to DCMS (Department of Digital, Culture, Media & Sport) for confirmation. However, nothing came back to-date from DCMS. My interpretation is that we have missed the previous scheme.

Fortunately, there is a new £5Bn “Project Gigabit” starting this April, announced by the DCMS press release of 19/03/2021. Part of it are new vouchers worth £210Mn for rural areas, which will go live on 8/04/2021. The new vouchers are up to £1,500 for residents and up to £3,500 for businesses, i.e. exactly the same as the previous BDUK scheme. My calculations are that those standard vouchers are very close to what we need. However, if that is not the case, there are also hopes for another top-up vouchers through KCC (Kent County Council), who have recently written to Secretary of State of DCMS on behalf of rural communities such as ours with the request to introduce higher-value broadband voucher scheme. We also have a strong support from our local MP, Helen Whately, who has argued our case with both Openreach and KCC on a number of occasions. So, let’s keep our fingers crossed.