BDUK has reported fresh progress on the UK’s Project Gigabit programme, with more rural and hard-to-reach premises now passed by subsidised gigabit infrastructure.
The August 2026 update shows 296,770 contracted premises delivered by 17 August. That figure rose from 287,510 in July. It means more than 9,000 additional premises were passed in one month through the Gigabit Infrastructure Subsidy programme.
The numbers represent around 35% of the 846,770 premises covered by current contracts. This marks steady progress for a programme built to close the UK’s remaining broadband gaps.
However, BDUK urged caution when reading the figures. The agency said a “variable time lag between contract signature/delivery and data ingestion by BDUK” may affect accuracy. It also rounded the reported numbers to the nearest 10.
This matters for operators, suppliers, and local authorities tracking deployment. Broadband build data often changes as networks move from planning to live service. Reporting delays can make monthly comparisons look sharper than reality.
The update also separates these figures from wider public subsidy results. Earlier this year, BDUK reported 1.42 million premises passed with public support. That wider figure includes more than the Gigabit Infrastructure Subsidy programme alone.
Launched in 2021, Project Gigabit carries £5 billion in public funding. Its central role is to support gigabit-capable broadband where commercial rollout struggles.
The UK now claims around 90% gigabit-capable broadband coverage. The government target stands at 99% of premises by 2032. The 36 active Project Gigabit contracts focus heavily on the final 10%.
That final stretch will likely prove the hardest. Remote homes, scattered communities, and challenging terrain raise build costs. Fibre routes can require longer digs, permissions, and new engineering work.
For communities still waiting, the programme offers clear value. Better broadband supports remote work, digital services, telehealth, education, and local business growth. It also helps reduce the long-running rural connectivity gap.
Yet the delivery pace will face growing scrutiny. Passing fewer premises can cost more as locations become harder to reach. Operators must balance public funding, engineering capacity, and local demand.
The latest figures suggest momentum remains positive. Still, the milestone also highlights the scale of work ahead. The UK has made major progress on gigabit coverage, but the hardest connections remain unfinished.
As Connected Britain approaches, the debate will sharpen. Industry leaders will ask whether current funding, contracts, and rollout models can finish the job. For now, BDUK shows progress, while reminding the market that precision still matters.
