Openreach bringing Full Fibre to Dover

Openreach has started work to build a new ultrafast broadband network for Dover – 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.

Engineers have started work on the new network and the build is expected to reach the majority of local homes and businesses over the next 12-24 months, with nearly 30 per cent of homes and businesses in the Dover exchange area already able to order a Full Fibre service through a provider of their choice on the Openreach network.

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 can enjoy a host of online services and entertainment, with seamless streaming and smooth online gaming. The technology also supports day-to-day, business critical tasks like video calls, banking and online customer interactions.

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.

Kieran Wines, Regional Partnership Director for Openreach, said: “We’re bringing Full Fibre to Dover and we want to let local people know what we’re doing.

“This is a major infrastructure upgrade, so there will be 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.”

He added: “Dover is part of our balanced build across the south east, which includes more than 200 rural towns and villages. We want to make sure that progress is evenly spread and that people in all parts of the south east can be online effortlessly and build opportunities in their community. Connecting everyone in the region to our fastest and most reliable broadband would result in a multi-billion pound economic boost.”

Openreach’s new ultrafast Full Fibre network in the south east now reaches more than one million properties, and the company plans to roll out the new technology to 25 million homes and businesses by the end of 2026.

Openreach build partner MTS is helping to deliver the investment in Dover.

You can find out more about the benefits of an upgrade to Full Fibre broadband on the Openreach website.