A new annual update from Openreach as shown that broadband use across the UK increased by 10.5 per cent last year, with traffic up in 2024 to 103,590 Petabytes (PB) of data.
Mon, 13/01/2025 - 14:10
Openreach has begun work to build a new network in Samlesbury, rolling out full fibre to more homes and businesses in the area.
Funding through the Government’s Gigabit Broadband Voucher Scheme means more remote rural communities like Samlesbury are now within reach of the technology, with eligible residents given free broadband vouchers to upgrade and access faster speeds.
The company is urging those eligible who haven’t yet pledged their broadband voucher to do so, to enable engineers to connect as many homes and businesses as possible.
Without the maximum numbers of free Government vouchers pledged some premises may miss out on the upgrade that enables Openreach to work with a local community to build a customised, co-funded network.
The vouchers can be combined to extend the faster network to premises in outlying rural areas which won’t be covered by private investment.
Paul Harland, Openreach’s regional engagement manager, said: “We’ve had a great response so far, but we still need more people to sign up and pledge their voucher so the majority benefit from the new technology.
“Our Fibre Community Partnership programme has meant that we’ve been able to potentially bring hundreds more communities across the UK into our full fibre build plans.”
