Openreach van on a country road

Policy Hub

How to back better broadband

The changes we need

Deploy Flexi permit trials to deliver a more efficient build

Address access issues to prevent a new digital divide  

Reform the Apprenticeship levy for our changing training needs

  • Flexi permits video transcript

    Every year, Openreach applies for hundreds of thousands of permits to work in every part of the country. And as we ramp up our build to deliver ultrafast, ultra reliable Full Fibre broadband to 25 million homes and businesses, the number of permits we need is expected to double.

    The current system is not suited to the type of work we’re doing – which unlike other utilities, is high volume and low duration. Which also means it’s relatively low impact.

    Applying for permits creates an admin burden for us, but also for our partners in local authorities, and it slows down our rollout.

    Flexi permits offer an alternative solution. They allow for multiple streets to be permitted at once, cutting processing times for local authorities and reducing our permitting requirements by as much as 90% in some cases.

    The Department for Transport has agreed to undertake a set of trials, which we are supporting and are keen to see this policy implemented as soon as possible, so that more homes and businesses can be connected.

  • Prevent a new digital divide video transcript

    Across the UK there are thousands of multi-dwelling units. These range from blocks of flats, through to houses that have been converted into apartments.

    While we are allowed to enter communal areas to repair the copper network, we’re not allowed to upgrade residents to Full Fibre. To do this, we need a wayleave given by the owner of the building, and this isn’t as straightforward as it sounds. Where we can’t secure a wayleave, we are unable to install the fibre into the building.

    We estimate that our Full Fibre is currently outside around 801,000* MDUs, most of which are ‘small’, meaning there’s between one and 30 flats within the building.

    The government recently introduced a ‘workaround’ called the Telecommunications Infrastructure Leasehold Property Act, or TILPA. But our trials show that this is not working.

    In Glasgow we found that it increased the cost of building by 160%, which is money away from upgrading other homes and businesses.

    We want to work with government and the wider industry to develop a solution and prevent a future digital divide.

    Automatic upgrade rights are the way forward, allowing us to use the same access rights to upgrade flats as we would to repair their broadband.

     

    *Figure updated in November 2023 and does not match the video content.

  • Apprenticeship Levy video transcript

    Every year BT Group pays towards the government’s Apprenticeship Levy, and over the last three years Openreach has used around half of that to hire and train 10,000 apprentices.

    We’ve done this in-house, in our 10 purpose built, state of the art training schools, and have worked closely with national bodies to ensure that our courses are developed and delivered to the highest, industry recognised standards.

    However, with nearly 30,000 engineers, we now need to focus on reskilling our workforce. This means ensuring our copper engineers can also install and maintain the fibre network. The levy in its current form doesn’t offer the flexibility we need to provide short courses and accreditations to our existing workforce, many of whom will have already secure an apprenticeship and therefore aren’t eligible for a second.

    It also doesn’t let us train the next generation of civil engineers who are already highly skilled and highly qualified. Without reform, it will be increasingly challenging to provide our engineers with the skills they need to evolve with the industry.

Driving UK competitiveness

  • Deliver a secure regulatory and economic environment

    In order to ensure continuous improvements in the UK's digital infrastructure, foster healthy competition, and deliver value to customers, it is crucial to maintain stability in the regulatory environment.

    The current regulatory framework, known as the Wholesale Fixed Telecoms Market Review, coupled with policies such as full expensing, have proven successful in achieving these goals.

    It provides a long-term framework for investment that has given Openreach the confidence to make a ‘fair bet’ and invest billions of pounds upfront on the basis that we will retain future earnings, something we do not expect for the next two decades.

    In 2016, Full Fibre broadband was available to just 2% of the UK, but now 57% can access this technology, rising to 91% by 2026.

  • Reform the Apprenticeship Levy for a future fit workforce

    Thanks to the Apprenticeship Levy, Openreach successfully trained over 10,000 engineers between 2020 and 2023, the country’s largest private employer of apprentices.

    As our training needs develop, more flexibility to allow for the upskilling of our workforce is vital.

    Greater transparency is also required to better understand how the industry, and the country is investing in apprenticeships and skills more broadly, to help inform and drive a new approach.

Removing the roadblocks to roll-out

  • Deliver Flexi-Permit trials to make broadband rollout more efficient

    Openreach currently applies for 300,000 permits a year to councils across the country to deliver our digital upgrades on a street-by-street basis, and this is set to double as we build to 25 million homes and businesses.

    More flexible permitting is supported across the industry and offers a solution that can improve industry efficiency by around a quarter, reduce permit processing by up to 90% in local authorities and limit the carbon footprint of construction.

    This essential reform is revenue-neutral and would allow local authorities to divert savings into other pressing areas, while allowing digital infrastructure builders to build further and faster than under the current regime.

    While the UK Government has committed to trialling flexi-permits across England and Wales, we need urgent progress so we can incorporate this into our plans.

     

  • Grant automatic upgrade rights to Multi-Dwelling units

    Our 2024 data highlights that we are unable to reach buildings across the UK containing over 990,000 flats. These are homes that are at risk of missing out on upgrades to faster, more reliable broadband due to barriers to access.

    These homes are in so-called Multi-Dwelling Units (flats or sub-divided houses) and are at risk of a future ‘digital divide’ if we don't establish automatic upgrade rights. 

    As it currently stands, Openreach can use our existing wayleaves to access communal areas in flats to repair the copper network, but we cannot use those same access rights to upgrade these premises to the latest Full Fibre technology. With this being a growing issue, we are calling for amendments to existing legislation.

    This is a revenue-neutral change, which would add to economic growth and is one we believe any government should make to ensure that people are not left behind.

Support sustainability goals

  • Accelerate the roll-out of zero emission vehicles

    Openreach has committed to decarbonising our 29,000 strong van fleet by 2030 and now needs to see leadership from government in order to develop a national charging infrastructure and boost supplies of UK-made vehicles. 

    We have committed to doing our part, installing charge points in our engineers’ homes and key strategic locations for the business, but need a UK-wide network of interoperable and well-maintained charge points within easy reach for all drivers in all communities.

    Additionally, we want to support UK manufacturers and support calls for further support that allows van manufacturers to easily re-fit their plants for electric vehicles.

Our publications, blogs and resources

Openreach engineer greeting customer at their doorstep

Centre for Economics and Business Research (CEBR) Report

The latest research conducted by CEBR highlights the economic impact of the Full Fibre rollout. It reveals that this initiative has the potential to contribute up to £72 billion to the UK economy, and help over 530,000 individuals back into work.

Engineer by her van

Full Fibre productivity

The latest research undertaken by Be The Business on behalf of Openreach outlines the value of Full Fibre for Small and Medium Sized Enterprises (SMEs). The report sets out how nationwide Full Fibre broadband can unlock productivity growth in SMEs and myth busts common assumptions around broadband connectivity.

Annual Review

It's been quite a year for Openreach. With faster, more reliable connectivity becoming a necessity for most people, we're proud to have reached a significant milestone by bringing Full Fibre to over ten million homes and businesses, including rural areas.

Bridging the digital divide

In the UK, there are over 800,000 Multi Dwelling Units (flats) that we currently cannot access. While we can enter these properties to fix copper network issues as permitted by law, upgrading to Full Fibre requires separate permission from the landlord, which is challenging to obtain.

Several blocks of apartment buildings with windows
Openreach engineers showing diversity of teams

Everyone’s welcome at Openreach

Openreach is made up of 37,000 unique minds, varied vaults of experience each wonderfully different from the last, united by our mission to deliver full fibre to 25 million homes. We want to do more to ensure that our company, and our customers, benefit from the widest possible range of perspectives.

Meet our team

Openreach|Abby Chicken|Head of Sustainability
Abby Chicken
Head of Sustainability
Openreach|Miles Evans|Head of Public Affairs
Miles Evans
Head of Public Affairs
Openreach|Grace O’Keeffe|Public Affairs Manager
Grace O’Keeffe
Public Affairs Manager
Openreach|Michael Salter-Church MBE|Director of External Affairs, Policy & Sustainability
Michael Salter-Church MBE
Director of External Affairs, Policy & Sustainability
Openreach|Denise Westbury-Haines|Public Affairs Manager
Denise Westbury-Haines
Public Affairs Manager
Openreach|Will Woodroofe|Policy Manager
Will Woodroofe
Policy Manager

Contact us

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