The UK government is working to deliver fast and reliable broadband through a £5 billion programme called Project Gigabit. This aims to help homes and businesses in hard-to-reach areas get gigabit-capable internet. In Essex, addresses fall into two areas: Lot 21 (most of Essex) and Lot 5 (some parts of Uttlesford).
What’s happening in Essex (Lot 21)
Most of Essex falls within an area known as Lot 21. Essex County Council is working with the government’s Building Digital UK (BDUK) team to expand access to gigabit broadband services.
BDUK has signed a Type C agreement with Openreach. This is a special contract designed to bring high-speed broadband to areas where other Project Gigabit efforts haven’t worked – such as places with little commercial interest, previous contract issues, or where this new approach offers better value, faster delivery, or wider coverage.
Right now, work is underway to identify which homes and businesses in Lot 21 will benefit from this new rollout. The first installations are expected to go live in late spring 2026.
BDUK is also exploring additional options to support the smaller number of locations that may still be left out.
What’s happening in Uttlesford (Lot 5)
Some addresses in Uttlesford are part of Lot 5, which is managed by Connecting Cambridgeshire. CityFibre has been chosen to carry out the work in this area. For more details and updates, visit the official Project Gigabit website.
For more information on project Gigabit, please see the BDUK website.