Project Gigabit network build contract - Hampshire

Update to Project Gigabit network build contract - Hampshire May 2026

Following a significant expansion in commercial rollout and changes to market conditions, in May 2026 CityFibre and Building Digital UK (BDUK) agreed to redesign the contract for Hampshire, which has now been revised to cover around 29,000 premises backed with £71.7 million investment through Project Gigabit. 

The contract redesign minimises overlap with other suppliers’ commercial rollout, ensuring value for money for taxpayers by focusing public funding on premises that would otherwise miss out.  

We are in discussions with other suppliers to ensure remaining premises not covered by any rollout plans still get access to fast, reliable broadband as soon as possible.

Following a transparent, fair and robust procurement process, BDUK awarded supplier CityFibre a £104.2 million contract to provide around 75,500 premises in Hampshire with access to gigabit-capable broadband. The contract was signed in June 2023.

BDUK and Hampshire County Council will work collaboratively with the supplier on ensuring that network build commences as quickly as possible, once the supplier has completed their detailed plans for this build. An amount of preparatory work is required to reach premises (for example, digging trenches, laying duct, installing fibre) prior to being able to access a service. This varies depending on geography and supplier. The first premises under this contract are anticipated to have access to gigabit-capable broadband in 2024. Once the gigabit-capable network has been built, residents and businesses will be able to request a connection from a broadband service provider to benefit from the faster speeds.

Please note the premises to be reached by the contract are subject to change following detailed planning by the supplier or due to technical reasons during the lifetime of the contract.