First Perth residents go live on new broadband network

Perth Fibre Build 03

Openreach today confirmed the first 5,000 homes and businesses can now connect to its major new ultrafast broadband network for Perth, with thousands more planned in the city and more rural parts of the county over the next 12 months.

The once-in-a-generation, full fibre broadband upgrade is bringing Perth some of the fastest, most reliable broadband anywhere in Europe. It will let thousands of local people connect multiple devices at gigabit-capable speeds and help businesses trade online and compete for decades to come.

Engineers plan to start work on major builds for Coupar Angus and Crieff this autumn, where the majority of properties are expected to join the 17,000 now able to upgrade to Openreach’s full fibre network across Perth and Kinross.

Work is ongoing in several more locations as part of the Scottish Government’s Reaching 100% programme, including Aberfeldy and Bridge of Gaur. Further R100 upgrades are due to start later this year around Blairgowrie and Rattray.

The company is also working on Fibre Community Partnerships in Glencarse, Gellybank, Fossoway and Blairadam, where it co-funds and builds new full fibre networks for small clusters not included in any other upgrade plans. The scheme uses vouchers from both UK and Scottish Governments to fill the funding gap.

Fibre technology provides more reliable, resilient and future-proof connectivity, with fewer faults; more predictable, consistent speeds; and enough capacity to easily meet growing data demands.

It boosts every online experience, from seamless streaming and gaming for households to smooth video calls, banking and customer interactions for businesses, with much less buffering or slowdown at busy times.

Local people can visit openreach.co.uk/ultrafastfullfibre to register for updates and, as the build progresses, check their addresses to see when services are available from their chosen provider.

Robert Thorburn, Openreach Partnership Director for Scotland, said: “We’ve got a lot of work either under way or planned across Perth and Kinross, so we want to let local people know what to expect.

“We’re looking to upgrade as many homes and businesses as possible while our teams are working locally, so residents will spot more engineers, technicians, equipment and vans.

“We work hard to build safely and limit disruption, with loads of support from Perth and Kinross Council. Wherever we can, we use our existing network of ducts and poles to avoid roadworks, digging and disturbance.

“But there may be places where we have to put in new poles or underground ducts and cables if it’s the only way to include some people in the upgrade.”

He added: “Full fibre is the UK's most reliable broadband technology, so when it arrives in communities, it opens up massive digital opportunities. Research shows that connecting everyone in Scotland would bring a multi-billion pound productivity boost too.”

Openreach’s new ultrafast full fibre network now passes more than 1.2 million Scottish properties. The company plans to build to 25 million UK homes and businesses by the end of 2026, with an ambition to reach up to 30 million by the end of the decade.

Openreach build partner Morrison Telecom Services (MTS) is helping to deliver the Perth roll-out.

You can find out more about the benefits of full fibre broadband and register for build updates on the Openreach website.