Openreach adds 36 more locations for full fibre broadband rollout

So far 1.5 million premises has been reached nationwide through the ‘Fibre First’ programme

Openreach has announced 36 new locations will receive its Fibre-to-the-Premises (FTTP) broadband technology in the next 12 months.

The rollout means 74 locations across the UK are now covered by Openreach’s Fibre First programme.

In the coming months
towns and cities including Newcastle, Doncaster, Chelmsford and St
Albans will receive the FTTP broadband, plus four locations in
Scotland.

Openreach is aiming to
bring full fibre connections to 15 million homes and businesses by
the mid-2020s and recently upped its targets for full fibre
connections from three million to four million by March 2021.

Openreach chief executive Clive Selley said: “We’re pressing ahead with our investment and Openreach engineers are now building in communities all over the country, keeping us on track to deliver against the bigger ambitions we set out in May.

“The Government wants
to see a nationwide full fibre network and we’re keen to lead the way
in helping them to achieve that.”

Selley also mentioned the Scottish Government’s decision to extend rates relief on new fibre broadband networks will benefit Scotland as Kilmarnock, Bathgate, Broxburn and Whitburn will receive FTTP broadband.

Scottish Government
connectivity minister Paul Wheelhouse added: “We listened to the
industry and provided 10 years rates relief, five more than the UK
Government, with the aim of encouraging new investment in Scotland’s
fibre infrastructure network.

“Commercial
investment is a critical element of delivering our ambition to
deliver 100 per cent superfast broadband access to every home and
business in the country, making Scotland one of the best-connected
countries in Europe.”

Since Openreach began
its Fibre First programme it has passed over 1.5 million homes and
businesses across the UK.