LONDON, UK, 9th July 2025
Oxfordshire County Council is pleased to announce the successful completion of the GigaHubs project, an initiative that significantly enhances digital connectivity across the county’s rural and public service sites. This achievement marks a significant milestone in the council’s commitment to improve connectivity across the county through its Digital Infrastructure Programme.
The GigaHubs project in Oxfordshire, joint-funded by the Department for Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS) and the council, has connected 192 public service sites with gigabit-capable broadband. The sites include schools, GP practices, fire stations, libraries, leisure centres, community centres, and museums, including rural areas where fibre connectivity is difficult and expensive to provision. The funding from the council was sourced from income generated by the Digital Infrastructure Programme, costing the taxpayer nothing.
The project, managed by Neos Networks with subcontractors such as Openreach, Virgin Media Business, and Gigaclear, involved extensive infrastructure work, including the deployment of full fibre broadband. The improved connectivity enables public service sites to offer enhanced services, support remote working, and provide high-speed internet access to local communities. By developing a highly competitive supply chain and using the best technology for each site, Neos has enabled faster provisioning of public services at significantly reduced costs.
Significant benefits have already been observed in communities where the new infrastructure is operational. Village halls and community centres are live streaming events, meetings, clubs, and classes, to name a selection.
In addition to providing new full fibre broadband, the Digital Infrastructure Programme has funded three years of paid internet access for the 55 community centres and village halls connected through the Oxfordshire GigaHubs project. The council has ambitions to equip the community and village halls to become ‘community hubs’ offering enhanced community services, health and social care support, and reducing the need for people to travel further afield to access vital public services.
The new infrastructure will also incentivise more investment from the commercial sector in rural areas now that the targeted ‘hubs’ provide a way to connect homes and businesses nearby.
The project has allowed the migration from expensive leased line services to direct fibre internet services for council buildings. This has both improved connectivity performance while achieving a saving of £69,619.08 a year on connectivity costs for the council.
Moreover, as part of the agreement with Neos, the council secured a £20,000 social value contribution. This funding has been used to purchase 30 public computers, which have been allocated to the Oxford Westgate Library, Cowley Library, and Abingdon Library.
Craig Bower, Digital Connectivity Programme Director, stated: “The completion of the GigaHubs project marks a significant milestone in our mission to enhance digital connectivity across Oxfordshire. By providing gigabit-capable broadband to 192 public service sites, we have not only improved the quality of services offered at these locations but also stimulated further commercial investment in rural areas. This project exemplifies our commitment to digital inclusion and community development.”
Cllr Liz Leffman, Leader of Oxfordshire County Council, commented: “The GigaHubs project has transformed the digital landscape of Oxfordshire, enabling schools, GP practices, libraries, and community centres to offer enhanced services to residents. The successful collaboration with Neos Networks and other industry leaders has ensured that even the most remote areas now have access to reliable, high-speed internet. This initiative supports our broader goals of reducing carbon emissions, promoting digital inclusion, and fostering community engagement.”
David Bruce, CRO, at Neos Networks said “We’re delighted to have played a pivotal role in Oxfordshire’s GigaHubs project, which has empowered schools, GP practices, libraries, and other community hubs with fast and reliable gigabit-capable broadband. The collaboration has allowed us to use our expertise and relationships to deliver real public good and support the council’s vision for a smarter, more connected Oxfordshire. This project should serve as a blueprint for other local authorities seeking to bridge the digital divide and support community development”.