OPENREACH, the UK’s largest digital network provider, is set to invest an additional £50 million to bring full fibre broadband to 167,000 more homes and businesses across 25 new locations in Scotland. This announcement follows Openreach reaching the halfway mark of its nationwide plan to make full fibre available to 25 million premises across the UK by the end of 2026.
The new locations benefiting from this broadband expansion in Scotland include Bannockburn in Stirling, Lochgelly in Fife, and Clydebank in West Dunbartonshire, among others. Openreach’s commitment to building full fibre infrastructure is demonstrated by its nationwide plan, and the recent investment will contribute to the ongoing effort to enhance connectivity.
Robert Thorburn, Openreach Scotland Partnership Director, highlighted the significance of this national infrastructure project, stating, “From a standing start just a few years ago, we’ve made this life-changing technology available to more than a million Scottish premises, and we’re adding thousands more each week, building further and faster than any other operator.”
Openreach has been rapidly advancing its full fibre broadband deployment, reaching around 60,000 new premises every week, equivalent to connecting a town the size of Livingston in West Lothian. The company plans to continue its expansion beyond the initial target, reaching up to 30 million premises with full fibre by the end of 2030.
The demand for high-speed broadband continues to rise, with approximately 400,000 Scottish homes and businesses already connected to Openreach’s full fibre network. The network transformation aims to meet the demands of modern life, with data consumption on the Openreach UK-wide network reaching roughly 1.8 million Terabytes every week.
In addition to residential connections, Openreach has made full fibre available to key public service facilities, including more than 760 medical facilities, 1,100 educational facilities, and 110 emergency services buildings. The network expansion is expected to contribute significantly to the Scottish economy, with the Centre for Economics and Business Research (Cebr) estimating a potential £4.5 billion boost in output by 2030.
Robert Thorburn emphasised, “Our build rate is still accelerating, and we’re focused on reaching our next million Scottish properties faster than ever. Ultimately, our investment unlocks huge economic and social benefits by supporting the economy, education, healthcare, and public services.”
For individuals seeking information about Openreach broadband connectivity at their specific address, Openreach recommends using its online postcode checker for a personalised view.
