£2.8 Billion Broadband Boost Forecast for West Midlands

Full Fibre West Midlands rollout set to transform the region

A new report by Cebr and Stantec, commissioned by Openreach, reveals that Full Fibre broadband could contribute £2.8 billion in Gross Value Added (GVA) to the West Midlands economy by 2029.

The report also shows how this rollout will enable new jobs, better healthcare delivery, and stronger digital inclusion.

Key benefits of the broadband boost West Midlands

The research highlights a wide range of regional and national benefits:

• Economic uplift: £66bn GVA boost across the UK by 2029
• New job creation: Helping 620,000 people, including parents and older workers, return to employment
• Healthcare access: Supporting 5 million online NHS appointments a year
• Education gains: 21,700 pupils expected to achieve better pass rates
• Environmental impact: 1.4 million more remote workers reducing emissions
• Property uplift: Homes with Full Fibre see an average value increase of £1,900

Full Fibre West Midlands – strong progress already made

Openreach has already made Full Fibre available to 1.5 million premises across the West Midlands, part of a wider plan to reach:

• 25 million UK homes and businesses by 2026
• Up to 30 million by the end of the decade

Kasam Hussain, Regional Director, said:

“We’re not just upgrading internet speeds – we’re laying the foundations for economic growth, job creation and digital opportunity across the West Midlands.”

Check availability and take action

Local residents and businesses can use the Openreach postcode checker to find out if Full Fibre is available in their area.

Once available, users must place an order with their chosen broadband provider to upgrade – connections don’t happen automatically.

The full Cebr report is available via the Openreach Policy Hub.

Frequently Asked Questions