Openreach has unveiled plans for a new symmetric 1Gbps broadband tier, expanding options for Communications Providers on its Full Fibre network. This service is set to launch in April 2025 and will be available in areas covered by Openreach’s “Type C” bid under the UK Government’s £5bn Project Gigabit initiative, focused on upgrading the hardest-to-reach 20% of the UK. The ultrafast symmetrical service promises significant benefits for users, particularly in activities like content creation, online gaming, and cloud-based applications, where fast upload speeds are crucial.
Openreach product manager Matthew Sledge, said: “Last year we successfully launched to Communication Providers (CPs) new download speeds of up to 1.8Gbps over our Full Fibre network and we’re keen to continue pushing the capabilities of the network so we can further diversify our portfolio and offer our CP customers, and their own end customers a broader choice of competitive fibre based products.
At the current time we are focusing the new product on a deployment in selected Project Gigabit Type C areas, where we can assess demand and usage.
“With broadband data usage growing year on year, we’re also planning for the future, and have recently engaged our Communications Provider customers on the next phase of Full Fibre network architecture, e.g. XGS-PON[1]. We are seeking their feedback on what end customers future speed requirements might look like.”
Any end customers signing up to the new 1Gbps symmetric service will be able to use their existing ‘Optical Network Terminal’ or ONT – the box that allows fibre optic cable to be connected from inside your home, out through your property and to the fibre network at the street.
Pricing and commercial terms for the new product will be confirmed in due course.
