OPENREACH has announced plans to bring ultrafast Full Fibre broadband to more communities across Wiltshire.

A total of 17 exchanges are being upgraded, with homes and businesses in places including Alderbury, Downton, Tisbury, and Mere set to benefit.

The plans will see full fibre broadband for at least three million more homes and businesses in the UK – including 440,000 across the South West and 46,000 in Wiltshire, which are in some of the hardest to serve communities.

The 17 exchanges in Wiltshire:

  • Alderbury
  • Downton
  • Tisbury
  • Mere
  • Aldbourne
  • Cricklade
  • Malmesbury
  • Devizes
  • Marlborough
  • Bradenstoke
  • Bradford-On-Avon
  • Hawthorn
  • Pewsey
  • Calne
  • Keevil
  • Corsham
  • Lavington

While in Hampshire areas including Fordingbridge, Ringwood and Bransgore will also benefit from the full fibre upgrade.

Openreach says the updated build plan will be fundamental to the UK government achieving its target of delivering ‘gigabit-capable broadband’ to 85 per cent of UK by 2025 and also follows an extended investment commitment by its parent, BT Group – which means Openreach will now build Full Fibre technology to a total of 25 million premises, including more than six million in the hardest-to-serve parts of the country.

Connie Dixon, Openreach’s regional director for the South West, said: “Building a new ultrafast broadband network across the South West is a massive challenge and some parts of the region will inevitably require public funding.

"But our expanded build plan means taxpayer subsidies can be limited to only the hardest to connect homes and businesses. And with investments from other network builders, we’d hope to see that shrink further.

“This is a hugely complex, nationwide engineering project – second only to HS2 in terms of investment.

"It will help level-up the UK because the impact of Full Fibre broadband stretches from increased economic prosperity and international competitiveness, to higher employment and environmental benefits.

"We’re also delighted to continue bucking the national trend by creating more jobs in the region, with apprentices joining in their droves to start their careers as engineers.

“We’ll publish further location details and timescales on our website as the detailed surveys and planning are completed and the build progresses. In the meantime, don’t forget that you can also check what’s already available on our website - tens of thousands of homes and businesses across the South West can already access Full Fibre.”

This is part of Openreach’s £15 billion commercial investment in upgrading the UK to faster, more reliable, broadband.

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