Openreach Expand Project Gigabit Broadband Builds in Devon and Somerset UK

Network operator Openreach (BT) has issued a progress update on their deployment of a new Fibre-to-the-Premises (FTTP) based gigabit broadband ISP network across rural parts of Devon and Somerset (South West England), specifically those areas that form part of their related Project Gigabit contracts with the UK government.

For context. Openreach was recently chosen to deliver all of Project Gigabit’s Cross-Regional (Type C) procurements (here, here and here) via a Single Supplier Framework (here) – currently reflecting £745m in total public subsidy to help upgrade 297,000 premises to full fibre technology in some of the hardest to reach parts of rural England, Scotland and Wales (i.e. premises with no prior access to gigabit connectivity). The total value of this could also be raised up to £1.2bn in the future as more builds are added (here).

The areas covered by these Type C contracts typically reflect locations where no or no appropriate market interest had previously been expressed before to the Government’s Building Digital UK (BDUK) agency, or areas that have been de-scoped or terminated from a prior plan. Areas like the ones above are often skipped due to being too expensive (difficult) for smaller suppliers; all the other contracts have gone to smaller alternative networks.

Openreach has today issued a progress update on their related Project Gigabit contracts for Devon and Somerset, which form part of their “Call off 4” contract. In Somerset, the operator’s engineers are about to reach more properties in and around Watchet, Clevedon, Walton-in-Gordano, Clapton in Gordano and Walton Bay.

As for Devon, they’re about to reach Spreyton, Coldridge, Chulmleigh, Roborough, Broadwoodkelly, Beaford, Dolton, Monkokehampton, North Tawton, Bondleigh, Folly Gate, Merton, Meeth, Exbourne, Meldon, Lydacott, Southcott, Kentisbury, Landkey, Swimbridge, Combe Martin, Burrington, Frithelstock, Langtree, Stibb Cross, Creedy Bridge, Shobrooke, Crediton, Barnstaple Cross, Upton Hellions, Poughill, Sandford, Cheriton Fitzpaine, Neopardy, Gunstone, Nadderwater, Pinhoe, Broadclyst, Cowley, Doddiscombsleigh, Lower Ashton, Higher Ashton and Longdown.

In total, Openreach’s Full Fibre network now reaches more than 230,000 properties across Somerset and 385,000 properties across Devon, although this reflects a mix of both their commercial (most of the work) and publicly subsidised deployments.

Telecoms Minister, Liz Lloyd, said:

“Whether it’s families streaming together, farmers being able to use new technology, or businesses reaching more customers online, this upgrade creates real opportunities for communities across Devon [and Somerset]. By delivering infrastructure that will serve these communities for decades to come, we’re making sure everyone can benefit from the digital world, no matter where they live.”

The new service, once live, can be ordered via various UK ISPs, such as BT, Sky Broadband, TalkTalk, Vodafone and more (Openreach FTTP ISP Choices) – it is not currently an automatic upgrade, although some providers have started to do free automatic upgrades as older copper-based services and lines are slowly withdrawn. But it’s important to reflect that Openreach won’t always reach 100% of premises in every location they target on the first pass.