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Network operator Openreach (BT) has today announced that they’ve kicked off the construction phase for several of their recently awarded Project Gigabit broadband roll-out contracts with the government (BDUK), including in remote rural parts of Lancashire, Wales, Devon, Hertfordshire, Staffordshire and Wiltshire.
Just to recap. Over the past year Openreach has been selected to deliver all of Project Gigabit’s Cross-Regional (Type C) procurements (here, here and here) via a Single Supplier Framework agreement (here) – reflecting “up to” £800m in total state aid to help upgrade 312,000 premises to Fibre-to-the-Premises (FTTP) 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 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 umbrella Building Digital UK (BDUK) agency, or areas that have been descoped 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 Project Gigabit contracts have gone to smaller alternative networks (altnets).
The good news today is that Openreach have completed their initial engineering surveys and are now moving into the build phase for several of the contracted Type C areas, including in remote rural parts of Wales, Lancashire, Devon and Wiltshire. More will soon follow. We’ve also added details for Hertfordshire and Staffordshire below, which began a few days ago but slipped under our radar.
Openreach’s Initial Type C Build Activity for the Coming Months
Wales
Abercynon, Bedlinog, Llandrindod Wells, Llangollen, Glanrafon, Maerdy, Llandrillo, Betws Gwerfil Goch, Corwen, Llandderfel, Llaniestyn, Rhiwderin, Brynygwenin, Llanvihangel Crucorney[SB1] , Pandy, Llantilio Pertholey, Llanellen, Llansilin, Penegoes, Abercegir, Talywern, Llanwrin, Aberhosan, Melin-Bryhedyn and Castle Caereinion.
Lancashire
Haslingden, Loveclough, Rossendale, Lytham St Annes, Burscough, Lathom, Scarisbrick, Stacksteads, Bacup, Old Clough, Woodplumpton, Bartle, Catforth, Lea Town, Salwick, Clifton, Kirkham, Greenhalgh, Bryning, Treales and Standish.
Devon
Combe Martin, Fremington, Barnstaple, Iddesleigh, Beaford, Monkokehampton, Belstone, Okehampton, Sticklepath, South Zeal, Sampford Courtenay, Inwardleigh, Huish, Meeth, Petrockstowe, Exbourne, Northlew, Tawstock, Prixford, Marwood, Kentisbury, Muddiford, Stibb Cross, Newton St Petrock, Langtree, Peters Marland and Buckland Brewer.
Wiltshire
Calne, Stockley, Compton Bassett, Lacock, Chippenham, Lyneham, Wroughton, Royal Wootton Bassett, Swindon, Tockenham, Broad Town, Uffcott, Broad Hinton, Berwick Bassett, Winterbourne Bassett, Highworth and Sevenhampton.
Hertfordshire
Dane End, Great Munden and Ware
Staffordshire
Rugeley, including Wolseley Bridge, Blithbury, Colton; Cannock; Cheslyn Hay and Great Wyrley; Shareshill and Essington
Take note that Openreach’s Full Fibre (FTTP) network already reaches more than one million premises across Wales, as well as 200,000 across Wiltshire, 360,000 properties across Devon, 350,000 across Hertfordshire, 310,000 properties across Staffordshire and 520,000 properties across Lancashire (much of that came via commercial builds). The new contracts will push beyond this, tackling both new locations and also expanding coverage into some existing areas (infill).
The above only reflects part of the contracted counties and countries, so additional build announcements will follow as other areas reach the same stage. Most of these contracts will take several years to fully deliver.
Telecoms Minister, Sir Chris Bryant, said:
“I’m thrilled to see spades in the ground to bring fast, reliable broadband to communities in [rural areas] that have long struggled with poor connectivity – powered by our investment through Project Gigabit.
This isn’t just about faster internet. Whether it’s families streaming without interruption, farmers adopting smart technologies, or small businesses reaching new markets, we’re laying the foundations that drive economic growth and unlock opportunity across the country as part of this government’s Plan for Change.”
The new service, once live, can be ordered via various 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.