UK Broadband Economic Impact Could Reach £66 Billion by 2029

Report highlights broadband boost for UK economy

A new Cebr and Stantec report reveals that Openreach’s Full Fibre rollout could add £66 billion Gross Value Added (GVA) to the UK economy by 2029.

The analysis shows this once-in-a-generation digital upgrade could:

• Support over 620,000 people back into work
• Enable over 1 million to work from home, driving £19bn in annual productivity
• Boost healthcare, education, property values and sustainability

Full Fibre’s impact on healthcare, education and housing

The economic benefits extend beyond connectivity:

• Healthcare: 5 million NHS online appointments by 2029, doubling current figures
• Education: Over 21,000 pupils could improve test results due to enhanced online learning
• Housing: Properties with Full Fibre connectivity see values increase by an average of £1,900
• Environment: 1.4 million more home workers could help reduce traffic and emissions

Why the UK needs digital infrastructure investment

Clive Selley, CEO of Openreach, said:

“This network is a growth and prosperity engine. But continued investment depends on stable policy and regulation.”

Openreach’s network already reaches over 16 million homes and businesses, with plans to extend coverage to 25 million by 2026, and up to 30 million by 2030, subject to regulatory conditions.

Driving a digital future

The rollout enables faster adoption of tools like eConsult, used by over 50 million patients, and drives innovation in education, healthcare and remote work.

People can check their upgrade status using the Openreach postcode checker and contact their broadband provider to switch.

The full report is available in the Openreach Policy Hub.

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