CityFibre has begun work to connect more than 50,000 homes and businesses across hard-to-reach areas of Kent to next generation, full fibre broadband as part of government’s Project Gigabit.
The company was awarded a £112 million contract through the government-funded programme, enabling hard-to-reach communities access fast, reliable gigabit-capable broadband, reaching parts of the UK that might otherwise miss out on upgrades to next-generation speeds.
CityFibre is also contributing its own investment to deliver the project and reach more homes and businesses in the area. CityFibre’s Project Gigabit rollouts are part of the company’s commitment to reach at least 8 million premises nationwide.
The 50,000 homes and businesses across hard-to-reach areas of Kent will have access to full fibre broadband and this rollout marks the ninth of nine Project Gigabit delivery contracts secured by CityFibre, with the first Project Gigabit customers already connected in Cambridge, Norfolk and Suffolk.
CityFibre’s network provides residents and businesses with access to a range of ISPs, including well-known brands like Vodafone, TalkTalk and Zen as well as a number of exciting new providers. Sky’s Full Fibre Broadband will also become available on CityFibre’s full fibre network from 2025.
Telecoms Minister, Sir Chris Bryant, said, “Everyone deserves the chance to thrive in both their professional and personal lives, and lack of reliable connectivity should never be a barrier to that.
“Thanks to this government-funded programme, hard-to-reach parts of Kent are now being equipped with the fastest speeds on the market, allowing communities to stay connected."
Greg Mesch, chief executive officer at CityFibre, said, “Bringing full fibre connectivity to hard-to-reach homes and businesses across Kent will create new possibilities, empowering local communities to thrive. We are excited for residents to experience the benefits of enhanced connectivity, leaving behind the limitations of copper technology.”