Openreach, BT’s local network division has begun trialling new, simplified duct and pole sharing processes with five communications providers (CPs) across the UK. The trials could see new fibre broadband networks being built across the country, as they give companies the ability to carry out more work themselves, more quickly and efficiently, without seeking permission from Openreach.
Callflow, NextGenAccess and WarwickNet are amongst the five CPs taking part in the trials, which are open to every provider under the same terms, throughout the country.
Openreach’s ducts and poles have been available for other companies to use since 2011, and these efforts to streamline the process have been developed by an industry working group, which launched in November 2015.
The company hopes that the improved access to Openreach infrastructure will encourage more CPs to invest in connecting areas of the UK that are not presently served by existing fibre networks.
Openreach is separately working to create new digital maps which will chart its UK network infrastructure and further support any CP that wishes to plan and deploy their own new fibre networks.
Clive Selley, CEO, Openreach
We have already built an open wholesale fibre network which is available to more than 25 million homes and businesses, and we’re continuing to bring fibre to more than 25,000 premises each week.
