Better Broadband for Suffolk - Frequently asked questions

Project Gigabit is a £5 billion government infrastructure project aimed at delivering fast and reliable gigabit-capable broadband to homes and businesses in the hardest-to-reach parts of the UK. The project falls within the scope of work carried out by the Department for Science, Innovation and Technology (DSIT) and is managed on a day-to-day basis by Building Digital UK (BDUK).

On 1 July 2023, it was announced that the contract for Suffolk, representing a £100 million investment in Suffolk, has been awarded by BDUK to CityFibre to provide new high speed Gigabit broadband capabilities. CityFibre has more information about the Suffolk project on their website.

For further details about the scheme, please read the Government press release.

No – this project is managed by BDUK who in turn have contracted CityFibre to do the actual work of installing the cabling. Suffolk County Council is being consulted on the progress of this project and is working with BDUK to help make it a success.

Any work which involves the installation of new hardware or cabling may result in some limited disruption to roads and highways. BDUK and CityFibre are committed to keeping disruption to a minimum, but in order to get the benefits of faster broadband, there may be some short-term disruption. If you want to find out more about road closures or diversions where you live please visit the one network website.

Cabling is routed through cabinets which house the technology necessary to connect to the wider network, from there cables run underground to premises and businesses. BDUK and CityFibre are aware of our commitment to protect the Suffolk environment.

The decision on where to build gigabit-capable broadband infrastructure is managed by BDUK and not by Suffolk County Council.

Alongside Project Gigabit, the Department for Science, Innovation and Technology is responsible for a voucher scheme to increase gigabit-capable connectivity in rural areas - read more about the Gigabit Broadband Voucher Scheme. (Note: This scheme is paused in Suffolk, whilst the mobilisation phase of Project Gigabit is undertaken).

Through Openreach’s Fibre Community Partnerships, areas that are not included in any fibre roll-out plans can get advice and support to bring fibre broadband to their area - read more about Fibre Community Partnership schemes.

The broadband universal service obligation (USO) gives people in the UK the right to request a decent and affordable broadband connection. Under the USO, eligible homes and businesses will be able to request a connection where the cost of building it is no more than £3,400 – read more about the broadband universal service obligation.

If fibre broadband is already available for you, you might want to consider finding out more about social tariffs, which are cheaper broadband and phone packages for people claiming Universal Credit, Pension Credit and some other benefits. The Ofcom website offers advice about social tariffs.

Go to the CityFibre Project Gigabit website for more information.

The Better Broadband for Suffolk programme started in 2010. The programme received public funding to make fibre broadband available in areas that were not expected to be covered by commercial upgrades. Openreach were contracted to deliver the work. Under the government’s "Superfast Extension Programme", contracts were put in place for Openreach to extend fibre broadband coverage to 98% of all Suffolk premises by the end of 2022.

The Better Broadband for Suffolk programme ended in early 2023, with superfast broadband (speeds of at least 24Mbps) coverage of 98% across the county. 

Fibre broadband is the second generation of broadband and is much faster, more reliable and uses a different technology than standard first-generation broadband.

If your premise has access to fibre broadband, you will need to order a fibre broadband service from a broadband provider.

There are various comparison sites available to help you choose the best internet service provider (ISP) for you: Ofcom (Office of Communications) accredits a number of comparison sites to ensure they are accurate, accessible, transparent and up-to-date, as well as providing a checklist of things you need to check before signing up to a new broadband deal.

The Ofcom website also offers advice about social tariffs, which are cheaper broadband and phone packages for people claiming Universal Credit, Pension Credit and some other benefits.

Once you have signed up, your ISP will arrange for an installation of your connection.

Not automatically - to get fibre broadband, you'll need to place an order with an Internet Service Provider (ISP). This is because fibre broadband uses a different technology (e.g., fibre optic) and an engineer will need to visit your premises to install the necessary equipment.

The Department for Science, Innovation and Technology is responsible for a voucher scheme to increase gigabit-capable connectivity in rural areas - read more about the Gigabit Broadband Voucher Scheme.

Through Openreach’s Fibre Community Partnerships, areas that are not included in any fibre roll-out plans can get advice and support to bring fibre broadband to their area - read more about Fibre Community Partnership schemes.

The broadband universal service obligation (USO) gives people in the UK the right to request a decent and affordable broadband connection. Under the USO, eligible homes and businesses will be able to request a connection where the cost of building it is no more than £3,400 – read more about the broadband universal service obligation.

If fibre broadband is already available for you, you might want to consider finding out more about social tariffs, which are cheaper broadband and phone packages for people claiming Universal Credit, Pension Credit and some other benefits. The Ofcom website offers advice about social tariffs.

These documents relate to the Phase 3 State Aid Public Consultation / Procurement.

Links relevant to the procurement process

Prior Information Notice (PIN)

Contracts finder notice

These documents relate to the Open Market Review 2018

These documents relate to the Suffolk Reinvestment State Aid Consultation, April 2016

These documents relate to the Suffolk Additional Procurement State Aid Consultation, April/May 2014

These documents are the Suffolk Better Broadband Original Procurement documents, 2011/12

The Better Broadband for Suffolk programme helped to deliver improved broadband connectivity across the county.

Read more about the history and achievements of the Better Broadband for Suffolk programme.

There is now more than 98% superfast broadband (speeds of 24Mbps+) coverage across Suffolk.

Check if superfast broadband is available for your home or business.