Over 100,000 Homes and Businesses to Benefit Across 13 New Locations
In a significant stride towards enhancing digital connectivity, Openreach is set to invest £30 million in Yorkshire and the Humber, bringing full fibre access to over 100,000 homes and businesses. This substantial development encompasses 13 new locations, including Barnby Dun, Bingley, Gilberdyke, Howden, Hoyland, Ilkley, Leven, Maltby, North Cave, Pocklington, Rawmarch, Thrybergh, and York. These locations join approximately 180 other towns and villages in Yorkshire and the Humber already designated in Openreach’s comprehensive build plans.
Today’s announcement aligns with Openreach’s recent milestone, marking the halfway point in its nationwide initiative to connect 25 million premises with its full fibre broadband network by the end of 2026. The company has unveiled a total of 142 locations, including the 13 in Yorkshire and the Humber, where it aims to deliver full fibre to approximately 1.4 million homes and businesses, encompassing even the most remote and challenging communities.
Openreach stands out as the frontrunner in full fibre deployment in the UK, reaching around 60,000 new premises every week. This pace is equivalent to covering an area similar to Scarborough, translating to passing another home or business with ultrafast, gigabit-capable broadband every ten seconds. Undeterred by its initial target, Openreach plans to continue building, aspiring to connect up to 30 million premises with Full Fibre by the end of 2030.
Clive Selley, CEO of Openreach, emphasized the success of this national infrastructure project, attributing it to meticulous engineering on a large scale, adhering to budget and timeline expectations. Selley acknowledged the supportive policy environment that has fostered substantial investment and competition in the UK’s telecoms sector.
The demand for high-speed internet services continues to surge, with over four million homes and businesses already connected to the new Full Fibre network. Openreach is witnessing a steady increase, with its Full Fibre base growing by more than 30,000 new orders every week. The network handles a staggering 1.8 million Terabytes of data each week, underscoring the growing reliance on high-speed internet services.
Beyond connectivity, Openreach’s Full Fibre initiative is catalyzing improvements in public services. Over 13,400 medical facilities, including hospitals, GP surgeries, and pharmacies, have access to Full Fibre. The initiative is also connecting thousands of educational facilities, such as schools, universities, children’s nurseries, and creches, significantly enhancing online learning facilities for students nationally.
The broader impact of the network transformation is poised to play a crucial role in addressing various social challenges. Full fibre is extending to 2,500 banks and financial buildings, 1,500 libraries, art centres, museums, and 1,200 emergency services buildings, including coastguard and mountain rescue.
Openreach’s extensive network expansion not only connects people and businesses but also contributes to unlocking economic and social benefits, supporting new models of commerce, healthcare, and public services across the UK.
