Openreach Achieves Major Milestone: Full Fibre Network Now Reaches 50% of UK Premises
Openreach, BT’s infrastructure division, has announced a critically important achievement in its full fibre rollout, reaching the halfway point in its nationwide network deployment.The company’s full fibre network now passes more than 16.4 million premises across the UK, marking a pivotal moment in the country’s digital infrastructure development.
Network Expansion Progress and Coverage
Openreach’s engineers have been installing around 60,000 new connections every week,showcasing unprecedented speed in network deployment. The company’s full fibre network now covers various regions, including:
• Major cities like London, Birmingham, and Manchester
• Rural communities across Scotland, Wales, and Northern Ireland
• Previously underserved areas thru the Building digital UK (BDUK) program
Investment and Infrastructure Details
The company has committed to a £15 billion investment program, aiming to reach:
| Target Year | Premises Coverage |
| 2026 | 25 million premises |
| 2030 | Additional rural coverage |
Economic and Social Impact
The full fibre rollout has generated significant economic benefits:
• Creation of thousands of new engineering jobs
• Supporting the UK’s digital economy growth
• Enabling improved connectivity for businesses and households
• Contributing to the government’s levelling up agenda
technical Advantages of Full Fibre
the new network offers ample improvements over traditional copper infrastructure:
• Download speeds up to 1Gbps
• enhanced reliability and stability
• Lower latency for improved performance
• Future-proof technology capable of handling increasing data demands
Customer Adoption and Availability
While the network reaches 50% of UK premises, current statistics show:
• Growing customer uptake rates
• Increased service provider participation
• Competitive pricing options for consumers
• Simplified switching processes for existing customers
Environmental Considerations
Openreach’s full fibre deployment also brings environmental benefits:
• Reduced energy consumption compared to copper networks
• Lower maintenance requirements
• Decreased need for physical infrastructure repairs
• support for remote working, reducing travel-related emissions
Future Plans and Developments
The company continues to focus on:
• Accelerating rural deployment
• Enhancing urban coverage
• Developing new installation techniques
• Training additional engineering workforce
This milestone represents a significant step forward in the UK’s digital infrastructure transformation, with Openreach maintaining its position as the country’s largest full fibre network provider.
