More than one million UK premises are set to gain access to faster full-fibre broadband over the next 12 months under new plans to expand the rollout of XGS-PON technology.
The upgrade will increase the speed and capacity available across parts of Openreach’s full-fibre network as demand for data-intensive services continues to grow.
The wider rollout follows a pilot launched across 40,000 residential premises in Guildford and surrounding areas in March 2026.
Jennifer Holmes, CEO of the London Internet Exchange, commented: “Openreach’s plans to bring next-generation full-fibre technology to more than one million premises over the next year represent a positive step in preparing the UK for continued growth in data demand. As households and businesses rely on increasingly data-intensive services, from AI and cloud applications to streaming and smart devices, greater speed and capacity at the access layer will become essential.
However, faster fibre into premises is only one part of the connectivity equation. To translate these higher speeds into a consistently high-quality experience, investment in access networks must be matched by robust, scalable interconnection across the wider internet ecosystem. Keeping traffic exchange efficient and as close to users as possible will be vital to reducing latency, strengthening resilience and preventing bottlenecks as data volumes continue to rise.”
Download speeds of 2.3Gbps and 8Gbps will initially be available in upgraded areas, with the technology capable of supporting speeds of up to 8.5Gbps. These speeds could be up to 28 times faster than those currently experienced by the typical UK household, depending on the equipment and infrastructure available at each location.
Approximately one-third of Openreach’s full-fibre network is expected to be upgraded over the next five years through further construction, network improvements and equipment modernisation.
The existing full-fibre network currently reaches more than 23.4 million premises, with over 9.4 million customers having upgraded to a full-fibre service.
Elizabeth Anderson, CEO of the Digital Poverty Alliance, commented: “Expanding next-generation full-fibre broadband is a welcome investment in the UK’s digital future. Reliable, high-capacity connectivity is increasingly essential for accessing education, employment, healthcare and public services, and upgrading the network will help meet growing demand.
However, at a time when some households can anticipate multi-gigabit speeds, millions of people remain unable to participate fully in the digital world. Progress cannot be measured by maximum speeds alone, but by how many people can genuinely access and benefit from them. Without affordable services, suitable devices and the skills and confidence to get online, advances in technology risk widening the gap between those enjoying next-generation connectivity and those still struggling for basic access. Digital inclusion must therefore remain central to the UK’s infrastructure ambitions.”
The additional speed and capacity is intended to support growing use of AI-enabled applications, smart-home technology, future mobile networks, cloud-based services, streaming, gaming and remote working.