What Is Openreach? The UK's Broadband Network Explained (2026)

Openreach is the company that builds, maintains and repairs the broadband network infrastructure used by most UK internet providers. Legally separated from BT since 2017, Openreach owns the cables, ducts, telephone poles and exchanges that connect around 32 million UK premises. Your provider sells you broadband, but Openreach delivers the physical connection to your home.

What Openreach Does

Openreach is responsible for the physical broadband infrastructure that underpins most UK internet connections. The company owns and maintains approximately 190 million kilometres of cable, 4 million telephone poles, and over 100 million metres of underground duct. When you order broadband from providers like BT, Sky, Vodafone, TalkTalk, Plusnet or EE, it is an Openreach engineer who connects your home to the network. Openreach does not sell broadband directly to consumers. Instead, it operates as a wholesale network provider, offering equal access to all retail broadband companies. This was formalised in 2017 when Ofcom required BT to legally separate Openreach into a distinct company with its own board, management, and branding. The separation ensures that BT's retail arm does not receive preferential access to the network over competitors. Openreach employs approximately 35,000 engineers and handles over 8 million engineer visits per year across the UK.

Openreach's FTTP Rollout

Openreach is in the midst of the UK's largest ever broadband infrastructure project, rolling out FTTP to replace the ageing copper network. As of March 2026, Openreach has passed 82% of UK premises with FTTP capability, and gigabit-capable coverage stands at roughly 90% when including other networks. The company targets 25 million premises connected to FTTP by the end of 2026, with the government's Project Gigabit programme funding connections to harder-to-reach areas. BT was among the first providers to offer packages on Openreach's FTTP network, with plans ranging from 36 Mbps to 1.8 Gbps. Sky launched its Ultrafast FTTP packages in 2023, offering 500 Mbps and 900 Mbps options over the Openreach network. Vodafone's Pro FTTP plans include static IP addresses and a price-lock guarantee, appealing to home workers and small businesses. The FTTP build involves laying new fibre cables through existing ducts or overhead on telephone poles, minimising disruption to streets and pavements.

Openreach vs Alternative Networks

While Openreach dominates UK broadband infrastructure, a growing number of alternative network providers, known as alt-nets, are building their own FTTP networks. CityFibre, the largest alt-net, targets 8 million premises by 2025 and supplies wholesale access to providers like Vodafone and TalkTalk. Hyperoptic focuses on multi-dwelling buildings in urban centres, reaching over 1 million premises. Community Fibre covers 2.2 million London premises with its own FTTP infrastructure. In rural areas, Gigaclear, Wessex Internet and Voneus build FTTP where Openreach's commercial case is weaker. In Hull, KCOM operates the only broadband network, as Openreach has never served the city. These alt-nets introduce competition that drives down prices and accelerates rollout. However, Openreach remains unmatched in scale, and most UK households will receive their broadband over an Openreach connection. If an alt-net covers your area, it is worth comparing its packages alongside Openreach-based providers for the best deal.

How Openreach Affects Your Broadband Service

Understanding Openreach's role helps explain common broadband experiences. Engineer visits for installation and fault repair are conducted by Openreach staff, regardless of which provider you pay. This means a Plusnet customer and a Zen Internet customer in the same street receive the same Openreach engineer for line work. If a fault occurs, your provider raises a ticket with Openreach, who then dispatches an engineer. Under the automatic compensation scheme, Openreach pays providers £6.10 per day for delayed repairs beyond two working days, and providers pass this to affected customers. The PSTN switch-off in January 2027 is an Openreach-led project that will retire the traditional telephone network and move all voice services to digital lines. EE and TalkTalk both rely on Openreach for their fixed broadband networks, meaning service quality on the physical line is identical across providers. Where providers differ is in pricing, customer service, router quality, and value-added features like mesh Wi-Fi bundles or mobile backup.

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Frequently Asked Questions

Is Openreach the same as BT?

No. Openreach was legally separated from BT in 2017 following an Ofcom ruling. While BT Group still owns Openreach, it operates independently with its own board and management. Openreach provides equal wholesale access to all broadband providers, not just BT's retail division.

Can I contact Openreach directly?

As a residential customer, you contact your broadband provider rather than Openreach directly. Your provider raises any fault tickets or engineer bookings with Openreach on your behalf. Only communications providers and businesses with wholesale contracts deal with Openreach directly.

Does Openreach cover all of the UK?

Openreach covers most of the UK but does not serve Hull, where KCOM operates the local network, or the Channel Islands and Isle of Man. In Northern Ireland, Openreach infrastructure is present but some areas are served by Fibrus. Alternative networks may also operate alongside Openreach in certain areas.

Why does Openreach install my broadband if I'm with Sky?

Sky and most other UK providers lease access to Openreach's network. Sky sells the broadband package and provides customer service, but the physical line and installation are handled by Openreach. This wholesale model means the underlying infrastructure is the same regardless of which provider you choose.

Related Guides

What Is FTTP Broadband? · Broadband Installation What to Expect · PSTN Switch-Off Explained · Project Gigabit Explained

Methodology & Sources

Information in this guide is sourced from Ofcom market reports, Openreach coverage data, ISPreview.co.uk, provider websites and independent broadband research from Point Topic and Thinkbroadband. Prices and availability are checked monthly. Speed data reflects advertised average speeds from provider Key Facts documents.