Openreach has announced a major expansion of its full fibre broadband network, adding 21 new locations covering around 80,000 premises across Britain. The telecommunications giant is pushing ahead with ambitious plans to connect up to five million more homes and businesses by next March.
The latest rollout targets both rural and urban areas, with new connections planned for communities including Belmont in Lancashire, Cheriton Bishop in Devon, and Didcot in Oxfordshire. Other locations set to benefit include Innsworth in Gloucestershire, Silverdale in Lancashire, and Woburn Sands in Buckinghamshire.
Record-breaking expansion pace
The company is maintaining an impressive pace of installation, reaching an average of 85,000 new premises every week with its full fibre network. This represents one of the fastest broadband infrastructure rollouts in Openreach's history.
Clive Selley, chief executive of Openreach, described the project as "a UK infrastructure success story" and emphasised the need to maintain momentum. He said: "This is a UK infrastructure success story, so it makes sense for us, and the country, to push hard on the accelerator pedal."
Economic growth ambitions
Selley highlighted the broader economic benefits of the network expansion, stating that the new infrastructure is "helping to drive economic growth, create jobs, and will be the backbone of a prosperous, globally connected and competitive UK". The chief executive pointed to 2024 as the company's "biggest year of build ever", describing it as reaching "well over four million homes with this life changing technology".
(PA/London) Note: This article has been edited with the help of Artificial Intelligence.
