Jake Berry, MP, visits Rossendale Openreach ultrafast build
Openreach has started work to build a new ultrafast broadband network for Rossendale – giving residents and businesses access to some of the fastest, most reliable broadband anywhere in Europe.
The once-in-a-generation, Full Fibre broadband upgrade will let thousands of local people and businesses connect multiple devices at gigabit-capable speeds and help businesses to trade online and compete for decades to come.
Rossendale and Darwen MP, Jake Berry, met with Openreach's chief engineers to witness first-hand the innovative engineering techniques used to deliver ultrafast, ultra-reliable full fibre broadband across his constituency.
He was given a tour of the work and an update on the build, which has already reached more than 290,000 homes and businesses across Lancashire - including the first 2,000 homes and businesses to ‘go live’ in Rossendale.
He said: “Since I was elected It’s been a key priority of mine to improve broadband speeds across Rossendale and Darwen so it’s been great to meet the local Openreach engineers working hard to build a new full fibre network for Rossendale. I hope that residents and businesses will take advantage of the improved broadband speeds as they become more widely available.
“Fast, reliable broadband is more important than ever before as people are working from home, starting businesses and streaming content on multiple devices. It can even influence where people choose to buy a house or locate a business so it’s fantastic to see Openreach investing in our communities.”
Full Fibre broadband provides more reliable, resilient and future-proof connectivity; with fewer faults; more predictable, consistent speeds and enough capacity to easily meet growing data demands.
Residents will be able to enjoy a host of online services and entertainment such as seamless streaming, and smooth online gaming experiences. While businesses can operate with certainty that their broadband will support all the day-to-day, business critical tasks such as video calls, banking and customer interaction via social media platforms.
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.
The visit to Rossendale was hosted by Steve King, Openreach’s Senior Network Manager for Lancashire and Cumbria, who said: “We welcomed the opportunity to give a step-by-step demonstration of our technology, as well as an update on the build. Our local teams work hard every day to keep communities across Lancashire connected, and it was great to be able to share the challenges and realities of delivering this life changing infrastructure.”
“This is a major infrastructure upgrade, so local people will see more engineering teams, equipment and vans around town, and we're working hard to keep disruption to a minimum.
“Wherever possible, we’ll use our existing network of ducts and poles to avoid roadworks, new street furniture and disturbance. But there may be places where we need to install new poles, underground ducts and fibre cables because it’s the only way to make sure households get included in the upgrade.
“We’re using the latest technology, like tiny underground cameras that inspect ducts for blockages and help us avoid digging up the streets wherever possible.”
Openreach’s new ultrafast Full Fibre network in Lancashire now reaches more than 290,000 properties across Lancashire including thousands of residents and business in Accrington, Bolton, Burnley and Rochdale who already have access to the new technology. Investment is also planned in other locations such as Bacup, Blackburn, Darwen, Turton and Whitworth.
Openreach plans to roll out the new technology to 25 million UK homes and businesses by the end of 2026. You can find out more about the benefits of an upgrade to Full Fibre broadband here.
