Project Gigabit Letter
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Baronesss Lloyd of Effra
Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State (Minister for Digital Economy) Department for Science, Innovation and Technology
100 Parliament Street
London
SWIA 2BQ
Our Ref: SA17775
16 June 2026
Dear Baroness Lloyd,
Thank you for your letter outlining the changes to Project Gigabit in Norfolk.
We are deeply disappointed by this news, and very concerned on behalf of our respective constituents.
Connectivity issues in Norfolk are not new, we have been shouting about them for more than a decade.
Once again, it seems that central government do not see fit for people in rural Norfolk to receive a similar standard of provision to people in urban areas.
To see over 16,000 premises removed from the planned provision for Norfolk, when we are trying to grow our rural economy and improve our quality of living, is a cause of deep concern for us. Rural businesses who need a stronger connection to improve their prospects; young people who need a reliable internet connection for education and training; older people who just want to be able to sustain a video call with the andchildren - none of them should feel this is too much to ask for.
Rural residents and businesses should not feel they are second-class and can be cast aside when supporting them runs into difficulty.
There is now deep uncertainty for many of our rural residents about how their connectivity will be improved, and have been left in the dark at present about what the Government will be doing to ensure there is a plan to get them connected. These are individuals, families and businesses from a range of backgrounds, all facing unique challenges as a result of poor connectivity. As a matter of urgency, they need to know what the future holds for them.
In light of this, we would be keen to meet you at your earliest convenience to understand how the Government plans to support those affected by this news, and how quickly this can be clarified.
We look forward to hearing from you.
