Openreach Smashes 10 Million Full Fibre Build Milestone With Outstanding Success

Openreach, the UK’s largest digital network provider, has reached a major milestone in its efforts to bring full-fibre broadband to millions of homes and businesses across the country.

The communications giant announced that it has successfully built full-fibre connections to 10 million premises, putting it ahead of schedule in its ambitious plan to reach 25 million homes and businesses by 2026.

Openreach’s full-fibre network offers speeds of up to 1 Gbps, providing a significant upgrade over the older copper-based infrastructure still in use in many parts of the UK. This faster and more reliable connectivity will enable more people to work from home, access online education, and enjoy a wider range of digital services.

The milestone was partly achieved thanks to Openreach’s “Fibre First” programme, which saw the company invest heavily in rolling out full-fibre infrastructure in critical areas across the UK. Openreach has also worked closely with local authorities and other partners to ensure that the network is accessible to as many people as possible.

The company said its 10 millionth location had been reached in the village of Ketton in Rutland, where more than 900 homes and businesses in this rural location can now access an ultrafast full-fibre broadband.

Commenting on the achievement, Openreach CEO Clive Selley said: “Today’s announcement marks a significant milestone in our ongoing mission to upgrade the UK’s digital infrastructure. Full-fibre broadband is the future, and we’re proud to be leading the way in delivering this technology to homes and businesses across the country.”

The UK government welcomed the news, which has made improving the country’s digital infrastructure a key priority. Digital Secretary Oliver Dowden said: “I’m delighted to see Openreach reaching this impressive milestone. Full-fibre broadband is vital to our economic recovery and will help us build back better from the pandemic. I look forward to working with Openreach and others to continue to roll out this essential technology.”

With half of the UK’s premises now able to access full-fibre connectivity, Openreach’s next target is to reach 15 million more premises by 2026. The company has pledged to invest £15 billion in its full-fibre network over the next decade, helping to ensure that the UK remains at the forefront of the digital revolution.

“Our engineers are building rapidly across the country and we already have plans in place that will see full-fibre broadband reach over 25 million premises.” At Connect2 we are more than delighted and we congratulate Openreach for achieving such a great milestone. We will continue partnering with leading leased line providers in the UK to ensure you get the best costs.