Digital Connectivity in Derbyshire
RAD’s Digital Support Derbyshire program is keen to raise awareness of how connectivity in rural communities can be supported with Derbyshire County Council’s Digital Derbyshire and alternative options from Digital Unite
Broadband Voucher Scheme
If you live or run a business in one of Derbyshire’s hardest-to-reach rural areas, you could benefit from additional funding to help improve your broadband connection.
As part of the government’s Project Gigabit programme, rural premises with current broadband speeds of less than 100Mbps are eligible for vouchers — provided by Building Digital UK — worth up to £4,500 to help cover the cost of installing gigabit-capable broadband as part of a group project.
In addition, Derbyshire County Council is offering a top-up to these vouchers, contributing up to an extra £3,000 per property. This means the total funding available could be up to £7,500 per premises.
This is a fantastic opportunity to improve connectivity in rural areas, supporting homes and businesses to access faster, more reliable broadband.
For more details on eligibility and how to apply, visit the Project Gigabit website or contact us for further guidance.
Free WiFi Boxes from Digital Unite
At Rural Action Derbyshire, we’re always looking for ways to help tackle the digital divide in our rural communities. We’re excited to share news from Digital Unite, which is offering free WiFi boxes to help more people connect.
Digital Unite has partnered with Jangala, a charity dedicated to providing free internet access to those who need it most. Their innovative device — the Get Box — makes it simple for people to get online.
- It’s a small, lightweight device that plugs into mains electricity and instantly creates a secure Wi-Fi network.
- Set-up is simple: just raise the antennas, plug it in, and switch it on.
- Each Get Box can connect 10–20 people, depending on bandwidth.
Each box comes with a SIM card provided by VMO2 and the National Databank, offering 25GB of data per month — all completely free of charge.
One million people in the UK gave up their broadband access in 2023 due to cost. This initiative is a fantastic way to help those struggling with connectivity access vital services, education, and stay in touch with others.
