Question to the Department for Science, Innovation & Technology:

To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, what steps her Department is taking to ensure that Oxfordshire has 99% gigabit coverage by 2032.

As part of Project Gigabit, Gigaclear is delivering two contracts across Oxfordshire, with a combined value of £26.5 million, to provide gigabit-capable broadband to premises not included in suppliers’ commercial rollout plans. Approximately 9,500 premises across Oxfordshire are currently included in these contracts, which are being delivered until the end of 2026.

The Gigabit Broadband Voucher Scheme, which forms another part of Project Gigabit, is currently closed in the Oxfordshire area as our priority currently is to provide gigabit coverage to as many premises as possible through Gigaclear’s contracts.

We will aim to cover the remaining premises as far as possible as funding becomes available, in line with the objective of achieving nationwide gigabit coverage by 2032.