Euroroute Network Solutions
Project Gigabit’s Next Phase: What ISPs Need to Know for 2025-2030
Project Gigabit has significantly expanded broadband access across the UK, increasing gigabit-capable coverage from 66% in early 2023 to 89% by late 2024, with rural coverage reaching 85% by March 2025. £1.8 billion has been invested in rural connectivity, exceeding initial targets by connecting 1.2 million rural premises. Over £1.3 billion in contracts have been awarded, with major progress in connecting public sector buildings like schools and GP surgeries. While the urban-rural gap has narrowed, disparities remain, highlighting the need for continued investment and infrastructure development.
New Government Policy
As the new UK government commits an additional £2 billion to Project Gigabit for 2025-2028, ISPs face both new opportunities and growing challenges. With faster deployment processes, increased competition, and greater infrastructure sharing, ISPs must adapt their strategies, invest in scalable technologies, and enhance workforce capabilities to thrive in this evolving environment. In this blog we explore what the next phase of Project Gigabit means for ISPs and how they can leverage new funding, technology, and policy changes to scale their operations and stay competitive.
£2 Billion in New Funding
The UK government’s latest funding boost brings the total Project Gigabit investment to nearly £4 billion, reinforcing its goal to achieve 99% gigabit-capable coverage by 2030.
For ISPs, this means:
– More funding opportunities for rural broadband expansion.
– Faster access to financial support for network rollouts.
– New partnerships to deliver gigabit services in underserved areas.
How ISPs Can Benefit:
ISPs can capitalise on government-backed contracts to expand into rural markets and reach new customer bases. Investing in future-ready CPE solutions, such as Wi-Fi 6/7-enabled routers, ensures high-speed, reliable connectivity for these growing networks. By leveraging Euroroute’s no-touch deployment service, ISPs can streamline installations, reduce operational costs, and accelerate service activation for rural customers.
New Legislation to Accelerate Broadband Rollouts
To support rapid infrastructure expansion, the government is introducing new policies to streamline network deployment. These include:
– Reduced bureaucracy for ISPs installing fibre in rural areas.
– Simplified planning permissions for broadband infrastructure projects.
– Faster access to public land and buildings for network expansion.
What This Means for ISPs:
New legislation is set to reduce bureaucratic hurdles for ISPs, enabling faster, more cost-effective broadband rollouts, particularly in rural and underserved areas. However, with competition intensifying, ISPs must scale quickly to secure market share. Using pre-configured CPE from Euroroute accelerates deployments, while Cloud ACS (AVSystem) automates remote provisioning and management, minimizing technician visits. By adopting scalable deployment models, ISPs can efficiently expand into new markets and stay ahead of competitors.
Rural Gigabit Growth
The latest data shows rural gigabit coverage has jumped from 72.8% to 85% in just two years, with further growth expected. This presents a major opportunity for ISPs to tap into new customer bases before the market becomes oversaturated.
Strategic Considerations for ISPs:
– Leverage government funding to expand fibre and fixed wireless access (FWA).
– Deploy scalable CPE solutions to provide reliable gigabit connectivity in rural communities.
– Differentiate with premium service offerings like Wi-Fi 6/7 and advanced network management tools.
Infrastructure Sharing & Competition
As part of the next phase of Project Gigabit, the government is pushing for an open-access broadband network, allowing multiple ISPs to use shared infrastructure. This can mean lower deployment costs that make network expansion more affordable, allowing ISPs to deliver cost-effective broadband solutions to customers. However, increased competition from new market entrants could drive pricing pressures, while shared network access may lead to reduced profit margins. To stay competitive, ISPs must focus on service differentiation, operational efficiency, and advanced CPE solutions to maintain customer loyalty and profitability.
How ISPs Can Stay Competitive
To stay competitive, ISPs can prioritise service quality, ensuring fast, reliable connections that set them apart in a growing market. Automation and remote management tools like Cloud ACS streamline operations, reducing costs and improving efficiency. Expanding value-added services, such as smart home connectivity, Wi-Fi 6/7, and proactive network monitoring, enhances customer satisfaction and retention. With the government investing £100 million in digital skills training, ISPs can also focus on upskilling their workforce to support next-generation broadband technologies.
Key Areas ISPs Can Focus On:
– Training engineers in 5G, fibre deployment, and advanced network management.
– Upskilling teams in automated provisioning and future-ready AI-driven diagnostics.
– Ensuring compliance with new cybersecurity and telecom regulations.
Preparing for the Next Phase of Project Gigabit
With £2 billion in new funding, streamlined regulations, and growing rural gigabit adoption, the UK broadband market is set for major expansion from 2025 to 2030. To succeed, ISPs can leverage government funding, invest in scalable, fibre-ready CPE, and adopt Cloud ACS for automated operations to cut costs and improve efficiency. Upskilling teams in advanced broadband technologies will also be crucial to staying competitive. Euroroute supports ISPs through this transformation with no-touch CPE deployment, Cloud ACS solutions, and premium broadband hardware. Contact us today to learn more.
Preparing for the Next Phase of Project Gigabit
With £2 billion in new funding, streamlined regulations, and growing rural gigabit adoption, the UK broadband market is set for major expansion from 2025 to 2030.