A new gigabit address checker has launched enabling people in England and Wales to find out if they are due a government-backed broadband upgrade.

People can enter their postcode and find out if their home or business is covered by existing rollout plans, whether through the government’s Project Gigabit rollout targeting hard-to-reach areas or the telecoms industry’s own commercial plans.

Under Project Gigabit, more than 750 homes and business gain access to a gigabit-capable connection every day as a direct result of its investment.

The government has a goal of achieving 99 per cent gigabit coverage by 2032.

UK Telecoms Minister, Liz Lloyd, said: "Many rural communities have long struggled to do even the basics online due to slow internet speeds. Now, hundreds of households and companies are receiving government-funded upgrades every day - helping those who would otherwise miss out.

"Our new address checker puts power in people’s hands to instantly find out when faster broadband is coming to their doorstep, helping them seize the opportunities of the digital age no matter where they live or work."

Katie Milligan, Openreach’s Deputy CEO, said: "We’re proud to be working with the UK government to extend the reach of faster, more reliable full fibre broadband to some of Britain’s hardest-to-reach communities. Our engineers live and work in these areas too, so they know how much difference good connectivity can make to everyday life.

"Our new network is already available to more than 22 million homes and businesses and, as our Project Gigabit partnership accelerates, even more communities will start to see the benefits - whether that’s better access to online services, new opportunities for local businesses, or simply being able to stay connected with friends and family."