About Superfast South Yorkshire

Home
FAQs
About Superfast South Yorkshire

About Superfast South Yorkshire

Click on the buttons below to reveal answers to some of the most frequently asked questions.

What is the difference between commercial rollout and the Superfast South Yorkshire or Project Gigabit programmes?

The commercial rollout of fibre broadband is network expansion funded by private companies to reach more areas so they can gain more customers. The commercial rollout of higher speed broadband is expected to reach around 80% of premises across South Yorkshire. The remaining coverage will be derived from the Superfast South Yorkshire project, which has now been completed, or the Project Gigabit programme which started in 2024, to specifically address areas across South Yorkshire that are not commercially viable for providers to service without subsidy.

To find out if you already have access to the fibre network, please check the following two websites to see details of supply in your area

Think Broadband Coverage Checker

Ofcom Coverage Checker

How is this programme any different from South Yorkshire Digital Region?

The Superfast South Yorkshire programme is a completely separate to entity to Digital Region and the two are not associated in any way. Superfast South Yorkshire is funded by BDUK, BT and the 4 South Yorkshire partner Local Authorities, and is not just focusing on the roll out of fibre but also on supporting residents and businesses to access and use superfast broadband. This is a gap funded project where public funding is covering the gap where connection would not otherwise be commercially viable. The infrastructure will therefore be owned by BT who will have full liability and ownership to operate, upgrade and maintain the network. This is completely opposite to Digital Region which was a build and own infrastructure model with the risks being borne by the public sector

Why is the public sector involved?

We realise the importance of improved broadband speeds to local people and businesses. Public sector involvement is key to bringing access to areas that are not deemed commercially viable by the private sector without gap funding. This is part of the National programme driven by the Broadband Delivery UK (BDUK) and the Department for Culture Media and Sport (DCMS).

I am commercially covered, what do I do?

Commercial activity is completely separate from the Superfast South Yorkshire or Project Gigabit programmes.

If your postcode is, or is planned to be, enabled by the commercial roll out of superfast or gigabit-capable broadband, this means a commercial supplier already covers your postcode or is planning to build to your postcode soon. To find out what broadband is available to you, please check the following two websites:

Think Broadband Coverage Checker

Ofcom Coverage Checker

My home is a new build. What does this mean for me?

New build estates are slightly more complex in relation to connectivity extension programmes such as Superfast South Yorkshire or Project Gigabit. In line with state aid law, in order to determine the eligible intervention areas, Open market Reviews and Public Consultations were conducted to give commercial suppliers the chance to inform of their existing and planned of commercial coverage against the current post codes within the region, ahead of the commencement of both projects in 2014 and 2024. This means that only the premises that were built and recorded at the point in time that the review was completed are legally eligible to be included in the programme. This results in some new build estates being unable to benefit from our programme at the moment. However, since 2019, the Superfast South Yorkshire team has been engaging with planning authorities across the region to get high-speed broadband availability included as a planning condition in relation to all new requests for planning permission.

Frequently Asked Questions

Click on the buttons below to reveal answers to some of the most frequently asked questions.

About Superfast South Yorkshire