Openreach Limited

Openreach and the UK's Full Fibre network

Openreach Limited is the company that builds and maintains the UK's largest digital network, responsible for connecting homes and businesses to broadband services through a wide range of service providers. It is part of the BT Group, but operates independently to ensure equal access for all communications providers.

Its activity focuses on the Full Fibre rollout, the country's biggest broadband upgrade, which is already being extended to 25 million homes and businesses. The company describes its network as the UK's most reliable broadband technology, designed to deliver consistent performance with no buffering or slowdowns.

Full Fibre rollout and coverage targets

Openreach states it is carrying out the UK's largest and fastest Full Fibre rollout, reaching more homes and businesses than any other operator. Its plans support the UK Government's ambition of making gigabit-capable broadband available to more than 99% of premises by 2032.

The company also manages the transition known as The Big Switch Off, the shutdown of the UK's traditional telephone network, which is being replaced by digital phone services. Openreach provides information on when this change is happening and what it may mean for users.

Services for different types of customers

The company structures its offering according to the customer profile:

• Homeowners and tenants: access to Full Fibre, part fibre (Fibre to the Cabinet) or copper broadband, with options to choose the right connection.
• Businesses: from Full Fibre and dedicated Ethernet to Fibre to the Cabinet and copper, to keep business operations connected.
• Developers: connecting housing developments to the Openreach network, from standard broadband to Full Fibre, to offer more options to tenants and improve property competitiveness.
• Landlords: guidance on broadband options for new developments, from standard connections to future-ready Full Fibre, and how to connect the site from the start.

Communications providers and professional portals

Openreach supplies services to over 650 communications providers across the country. For them, it has specific portals: the CP Portal, aimed at service and communications providers to browse enterprise-grade solutions and access briefings; the Reseller Portal, for companies that resell services on behalf of providers; and the Developer Portal, aimed at developers, homebuilders and architects who need to build an Openreach network in new residential or commercial developments.

Help and support

The company offers differentiated support resources for homeowners and tenants, businesses, landlords and developers or utilities. These include assistance with engineer visits, installations, connectivity planning, reporting network damage and infrastructure requirements for new developments.

People and sustainability

Openreach employs over 24,000 people, including engineers, apprentices, graduates and IT specialists, dedicated to connecting homes, businesses, schools and hospitals across the UK. The company has the Let's Reach Zero sustainability strategy, aimed at reducing its carbon footprint, cutting waste and protecting the natural habitats in which it operates, while keeping everyone safe.

The company also publishes news about Full Fibre milestones, network updates and corporate information, and has specific sections for investors, awards, policies and compliance statements.