Openreach, the UK’s top broadband provider, has officially connected its first premises in 38 communities located in remote and rural areas across the country. This initiative is part of the Project Gigabit partnership with the UK government.
Launched in 2021, Project Gigabit aims to help the UK bounce back from Covid-19 by boosting sectors like tech and creative industries. The program focuses on ensuring that areas with slow internet speeds don’t get left behind in commercial plans, giving rural communities access to the fastest internet available.
The initiative specifically targets regions seen as too expensive for commercial providers, aiming to improve digital infrastructure and meet the demand for reliable connectivity. This will enhance local economies and make it easier for people to work remotely and attract new businesses.
Following the election of the Labour administration in July 2024, the government reaffirmed its goal: 85% of the UK should have gigabit-capable connectivity by the end of 2025, with full nationwide access by 2030. Soon after, they announced an investment of up to £800 million to upgrade broadband in rural areas of England, Scotland, and Wales.
The government recognized that many rural homes and businesses struggle with basic online tasks due to outdated infrastructure and emphasized the need for significant internet speed upgrades to close the digital gap. Openreach is set to provide gigabit-capable broadband to 290,000 homes and businesses in these regions.
Some of the first areas to benefit from this upgrade include Lacock and Broad Hinton in Wiltshire, Dane End in Hertfordshire, and several locations in Powys, Devon, and beyond. Openreach is also working on upgrades in Lancashire, North Wiltshire, South Gloucestershire, and parts of Shropshire and Herefordshire, among others.
This upgrade is expected to improve productivity, help over 620,000 people return to work, and enable more than a million to work from home. Research predicts that full-fibre broadband could add £66 billion to the UK economy by 2029.
Katie Milligan, Openreach’s deputy CEO, highlighted the significance of connecting remote and rural homes, stating it’s a monumental achievement. She expressed the commitment to ensuring every corner of the UK has access to reliable broadband technology.
UK telecoms minister Chris Bryant addressed the issue of poor connectivity, emphasizing that Project Gigabit is designed to open new opportunities for those in rural areas.
In terms of its build-out, Openreach is currently reaching over 70,000 new premises weekly. With the right investment, it aims to connect 25 million homes and businesses by the end of 2026, potentially expanding that number to 30 million by 2030.