Openreach has secured contract extensions to expand its full fibre broadband (FTTP) deployment across additional areas in the UK. The extensions cover Lancashire, West Berkshire, Staffordshire, Surrey, Hertfordshire, Wiltshire, Gloucestershire, Essex, and North East England.
What's happening
The government's Project Gigabit programme, which aims to deliver gigabit-capable broadband to underserved rural and remote areas, has been extended through modified contracts with Openreach. This means more premises in these regions will gain access to faster, more reliable full fibre connections over the coming years.
What this means for your business
If your SME is based in or expanding to these regions, improved gigabit-capable broadband could transform your operations. Full fibre networks offer faster download and upload speeds, lower latency, and greater reliability than older copper infrastructure—essential for video conferencing, cloud services, and data-heavy workflows.
Check whether your premises falls within the rollout areas and timeline. If full fibre is coming to your location, it's worth planning ahead for migration. Even if you're not in an expansion zone, faster broadband in your region may increase competition among providers, potentially improving service quality and pricing for your business.