The Better Broadband Scheme:How the scheme worksHiren DhimarAssistant Commercial Lead, BDUK

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Session overview

1.Scheme overview

2.Eligibility criteria for the scheme

3.The customer journey

4.Progress to date2

1. Scheme overview

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Scheme overview

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1. The Better Broadband Scheme enables access to affordable broadband that delivers a download speed of at least 2 Mbps to premises across the UK.

2. Eligible premises can access a subsidy of up to £350 to help towards the cost of a broadband connection.

3. BDUK estimates that there are approximately 184,000 premises across the UK that are eligible under the scheme.

4. The scheme is jointly managed by Broadband Delivery UK and local broadband programmes.

5. The scheme applies to the whole of the UK except Wales and Devon and Somerset, which have their own local schemes.

2. Eligibility criteria for the scheme

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Eligibility Criteria (Customers)

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Households and businesses can access a subsidy under the scheme if they meet the following criteria:

1. The home or business is not currently able to access a broadband download speed of at least 2Mbps.

2. There are no affordable broadband services available which would provide a download speed of at least 2Mbps.

3. There are no plans for the provision of superfast broadband to be rolled out to the premise within the next 6 to 12 months.

Eligibility Criteria (Suppliers)

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Products offered under the scheme must meet the following criteria:

Minimum download speed of 10Mbps and upload speed of 0.5Mbps.

A minimum data usage allowance of 10GB per month.

A minimum contractual term of 12 months of service.

The combined cost of installation and 12 months’ charges must not be less than £400 after a subsidy has been applied.

Suppliers must offer at least one product where the total cost of 12 months’ charges alone does not exceed £400 after subsidy.

Eligibility Criteria (Costs)

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The Better Broadband Scheme only subsidises the cost of installing a broadband connection from an existing network to a premise. The scheme does not subsidise:

• Building of network infrastructure, access network build, relay network build or any other network related costs

• Ongoing monthly charges

3. The customer journey

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The customer journey

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1. Customer checks eligibility:

• What are the current speeds available in their area?

6. Supplier has 60 days to install the broadband connection.

5. Customer has 60 days to choose a supplier they wish to purchase a product from.

4. Local Body issues code to successful applicants(or notifies unsuccessful

applicants.)

7. Supplier submits claim (invoice) for subsidy in end of month report (due 5th working day of each month)

8. BDUK undertakes assurance activity (can take up to 20 working days)

9. Supplier payments are released for preceding month’s installations

2. Customer completes Better Broadband Application form

3. Local body reviews application

Customer Local Body Supplier BDUK

Community Schemes

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Customers can “pool” their subsidies to support with installation costs to help raise funds for having a new broadband network built in their area.

The same eligibility criteria apply to the use of the subsidy under a community scheme, i.e. it cannot be used to fund building of new network infrastructure.

Customers who have registered their interest in a community scheme can still use their code with another supplier if they wish.

Community schemes: initial steps

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1. Supplier applies for Community Scheme package with BDUK

5. Supplier builds network

2. BDUK reviews the scheme application as per scheme guidelines

4. Customers pre-register their interest in the scheme (note: this is pre-registration only)

Join “customer journey” process

3. If the application is approved, the supplier promotes the product to the community.

Customer Supplier BDUK

4. Progress to date

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Headline figures as at 23 February

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Number of codes issued Number of codes claimed

13818 4341

Type of technology Number of codes claimed Percentage

Satellite 2065 48%

Fixed wireless 2161 49%

Other (4G, FTTP) 115 3%

Total 4341

Local bodies with the most demand

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Local Body Codes issued Local Body Codes claimed

Scotland 1359 Scotland 458

Northern Ireland 1008 Norfolk 373

Norfolk 945 Shropshire 310

Suffolk 638 Northern Ireland 300

Cumbria 610 Cumbria 280

Shropshire 518 Dorset 225

Dorset 489 Suffolk 154

Essex 433 Derbyshire 134

Lincolnshire 398 Northumberland 115

North Yorkshire 381 North Yorkshire 107Total 6779 Total 2456% of all codes 49% % of all claimed 56%

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Upcoming marketing activity

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DCMS are carrying out marketing in March 2017 in areas with a high number of eligible premises. This will include direct messaging to 90,000 target email addresses and google ads.

An advert promoting the Better Broadband Subsidy Scheme will also be circulated in March by a number of Third Party Agencies including:

Further information

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• Further information on the Better Broadband Scheme can be accessed via the website: http://basicbroadbandchecker.culture.gov.uk/

• A list of suppliers registered on the scheme is published here: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/community-led-broadband-schemes/suppliers

• Further queries should be sent to better.broadband@culture.gov.uk