Openreach, the fixed access infrastructure arm of BT, aims to increase Fibre-to-the-Premises (FTTP) coverage to 25 million premises in 2026 from the earlier plan to reach 20 million.
Openreach passed a record 2 million premises with FTTP. Openreach has the capability to reach around 4 million premises a year.
Encouraging take-up on the current FTTP footprint, the regulatory clarity provided by Ofcom’s Wholesale Fixed Telecoms Market Review (WFTMR), coupled with the Government’s recent cash tax super-deduction and the positive outcome from the recent 5G spectrum auction, BT has decided to increase and accelerate its total FTTP build from 20m to 25m premises by December 2026.
BT has the capacity to fund this additional build entirely from internal resources while continuing to stand by its other priorities, including investing in 5G and its modernization program, committing to a minimum credit rating of BBB flat.
BT will be funding the additional 5 million premises through a joint venture with external parties and will explore joint venture structures over the first half of the current financial year, said Philip Jansen, Chief Executive, BT Group.
