A new GOV.UK service allows businesses and individuals to find out whether their address is due a broadband upgrade. By entering your postcode, you can see whether your premises or home is covered by rollout plans.
The government’s Project Gigabit initiative is aiming to achieve 99% gigabit coverage by 2032. Rural communities, in particular, have to deal with slow internet speeds and this can make doing business in those areas challenging.
If your premises are not covered by a current plan, the checker will redirect you to Ofcom so that you can see which broadband suppliers are active in your area. You could then contact them to register your interest in an upgrade, which may help them to assess demand in your area and inform future rollout plans.
If you struggle with a slow internet connection, it could be worth using the checker to find out whether upgrades are available in your area.
To use the checker, see: https://www.gov.uk/guidance/check-your-gigabit-broadband-availability
A letter to local authorities confirms amendments that the government has made to the eligibility criteria for Supporting Small Business Relief, a scheme available in England.
A High Court order has confirmed that Emma Sleep, a mattress seller, behaved illegally and broke consumer law by using misleading countdown timers, false ‘high demand’ messages and ‘discount claims’.