The $16 million gamble on Project Gigabit

Godshill, a small village in Hampshire, England, was dropped from the £16 million government-funded Project Gigabit in March 2024, leaving its residents without broadband internet access. The project aimed to bring fast broadband to hard-to-reach areas by 2032, but Godshill was removed from the list, citing a private company would deliver the service. However, no one can identify who this company is.

According to the report, the village was originally supposed to be covered by Project Gigabit , with 159 homes set to benefit from the upgrade. However, the decision to remove Godshill has left residents feeling abandoned and forgotten.

An echo of Sydney's 2024 institutional buy-up

The situation in Godshill is reminiscent of the 2024 institutional buy-up in Sydney, where a private company was brought in to deliver broadband services to a hard-to-reach area. However, the success of this project is still unclear, and it remains to be seen whether it will serve as a model for other rural areas.

Residents of Godshill have been fighting for broadband for 14 years, but repeated delays and cancellations have left them without a reliable connection. Some have resorted to paying up to £100 per month for Elon Musk's Starlink satellite Wi-Fi, while others tap into the local holiday park's connection just to get online.

Who is the unnamed buyer?

The lack of transparency surrounding the private company that is supposed to deliver broadband services to Godshill has raised concerns among residents. According to Peter Woodward, vice-chair of Godshill Parish Council, the village's only recourse is to kick up a fuss.. The situation has drawn criticism from local officials, who are calling for greater accountability and transparency in the delivery of broadband services.

What auditors flagged in the May filing

According to the report, auditors flagged the lack of transparency surrounding the private company that is supposed to deliver broadband services to Godshill in the May filing. This has raised concerns among residents and local officials , who are calling for greater accountability and transparency in the delivery of broadband services.

A familiar pattern from the 2019 crash

The situation in Godshill is reminiscent of the 2019 crash, where a private company was brought in to deliver broadband services to a hard-to-reach area. However, the success of this project was marred by delays and cancellations, leaving residents without a reliable connection.

Residents of Godshill have been fighting for broadband for 14 years, but repeated delays and cancellations have left them without a reliable connection. Some have resorted to paying up to £100 per month for Elon Musk's Starlink satellite Wi-Fi, while others tap into the local holiday park's connection just to get online.

Broader context: The digital divide in rural areas

The situation in Godshill is part of a broader trend of rural areas being left behind in the digital age. According to the report, over 96% of UK households now have broadband, but Godshill remains in the 4% without access.. This stark reminder of the digital divide that persists in rural areas has drawn criticism from local officials, who are calling for greater investment in broadband infrastructure.

Open questions: Who will deliver broadband services to Godshill?

The lack of transparency surrounding the private company that is supposed to deliver broadband services to Godshill has raised concerns among residents. According to Peter Woodward, vice-chair of Godshill Parish Council, the village's only recourse is to kick up a fuss.. The situation has drawn criticism from local officials,who are calling for greater accountability and transparency in the delivery of broadband services.

Residents of Godshill continue to campaign for a solution, but for now, they are left with slow speeds, high costs, and an uncertain future.