Openreach has been awarded four new government contracts worth more than £289 million to provide gigabit connectivity for around 131,000 premises across hard to reach rural areas in Shropshire, Herefordshire, Wales, Devon, Somerset, Essex, North East England and Worcestershire.
Government’s Project Gigabit programme aims to extend networks capable of providing broadband ISP download speeds of 1000Mbps+ and uploads of 200Mbps+ nationwide by 2030.
As a result, some of Britain’s most isolated communities will benefit from faster broadband speeds, giving them access to a range of services including healthcare at home through virtual consultations and remote monitoring, and helping to combat loneliness by ensuring pensioners can access high-quality video calls.
It will also support businesses to grow and serve their customers online and help young people have a better start in life through access to online education, and the resources to apply and interview for jobs.
Technology secretary, Peter Kyle, said, “We are determined to deliver the infrastructure this country needs to thrive, and I am thrilled to see so many homes and businesses in all areas of the country getting access to the fastest broadband speeds on the market through Project Gigabit.
“With today’s £289 million investment, we are not only boosting connectivity, but making it easier to access remote healthcare, online education, shopping online. work, learn, shop and stay in touch with loved ones online.
“As part of this Government’s Plan for Change, we will plug digital divides, helping to make the UK a more equal society where everyone is given a fair shot in life.”
Openreach CEO, Clive Selley, said, “Our new full fibre broadband network now reaches more than half of all properties in the UK, and we’re confident we can reach as many as 30 million premises by the end of the decade, assuming the right regulatory and investment conditions exist. This is a British infrastructure success story which experts say will boost productivity by £73 billion and bring a raft of social and environmental benefits for the country.
“We believe that everyone deserves access to fast and reliable broadband, and we’re proud that this partnership will help extend our ultrafast, ultra-reliable network to areas that would otherwise be left behind by the private sector.”
The latest award brings the total number of premises across the UK that Openreach has been contracted to upgrade to 228,600, with funding topping £800 million.
Currently, due to an investment of more than £2.2 billion, Project Gigabit is delivering connectivity to more than 1.1 million hard-to-reach premises.
More than 85 per cent of the country has access to gigabit connections as government moves towards its target of full gigabit connectivity by 2030.