Openreach Reaches 20 Million Homes with Full Fibre: A Landmark for UK Digital Infrastructure
Published: September 25, 2025
The UK’s digital future is taking shape, and a notable milestone has just been passed. openreach, the UK’s largest broadband infrastructure provider, has announced that its full-fibre network now reaches 20 million homes and businesses – a testament to sustained investment, dedicated engineering, and a clear vision for a connected Britain. as someone who’s been tracking the evolution of UK broadband for over two decades, this isn’t just a number; it’s a pivotal moment for our digital economy and the communities it serves.
From Scotland to Cornwall: A Nationally Expanding Network
Openreach’s rollout isn’t confined to major cities. The network now stretches from the remote beauty of Fair Isle in Scotland to the furthest reaches of Devon and Cornwall, demonstrating a commitment to bridging the digital divide across the entire UK.This expansive reach is achieved through a massive infrastructure project – one of the largest and fastest of its kind in Europe – involving the laying of cutting-edge full-fibre cables in towns, villages, and rural areas.
Currently, Openreach engineers are connecting over a million new premises every three months, averaging a remarkable 85,000 new connections per week. To date, over 3,500 UK towns, cities, boroughs, villages, and hamlets are included in the build programme, with further expansion fueled by both private investment and publicly funded partnerships.
Why Full Fibre Matters: Beyond Faster Downloads
The shift to full fibre isn’t simply about streaming Netflix in 4K. it’s about building a robust, future-proof foundation for the UK’s digital economy. Full fibre provides the bandwidth and reliability needed to support increasingly demanding applications,including:
* Smart farming: Enabling precision agriculture,automated systems,and data-driven decision-making.
* Lasting Transport: Supporting connected and autonomous vehicles, intelligent traffic management, and efficient logistics.
* Remote Working & Collaboration: Facilitating seamless video conferencing, cloud-based applications, and flexible work arrangements.
* Virtual Healthcare: Expanding access to telehealth services, remote patient monitoring, and advanced medical technologies.
* Critical Services: Improving connectivity for over 33,000 medical facilities and more than 25,000 educational institutions.
The Path to 30 million: openreach’s Aspiring Vision
Openreach isn’t stopping at 20 million. The company aims to extend its full-fibre network to a total of 30 million premises by the end of the decade.This ambitious goal is contingent on maintaining a supportive economic and regulatory environment.As of July 1st, 2025, Openreach reported that 19 million premises could already order gigabit broadband, and they are on track to add another five million during the year ending March 2026.
Adoption Rates & The Remaining Challenge
While the infrastructure build-out is notable, adoption rates are a key indicator of success. Currently, seven million UK premises are already benefiting from services powered by Openreach’s network – representing 37% of the available footprint. However, a significant chance remains: only around 38% of households who can access full fibre have actually made the switch.
This highlights a crucial point: upgrading to full fibre isn’t automatic. Consumers need to actively contact their broadband provider to make the change.
Clive Selley‘s Perspective: A UK Success Story, But Work Remains
Openreach CEO Clive Selley rightly frames this achievement as a “UK infrastructure success story.” Though, he also emphasizes that the journey isn’t over. “The next premises to connect are some of the very hardest to reach,” he notes, acknowledging the ongoing challenges of extending full fibre to the most remote and underserved areas.
Selley underscores the vital role of connectivity in modern life: “In 2025, being online isn’t a luxury – it’s a lifeline.” he also outlines key areas where industry-wide support is needed to accelerate the rollout:
* Targeted Rural Support: Addressing the unique challenges of connecting sparsely populated areas.
* Streamlined Planning Approvals: Reducing bureaucratic hurdles to infrastructure deployment.
* Improved Access to Multi-Dwelling Buildings: Facilitating faster and more efficient installations in apartment blocks and shared living spaces.
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