A new report from the Centre for Economics and Business Research and Stantec suggests the rollout of ultrafast full-fibre broadband by BT Group PLC's infrastructure arm Openreach could boost the UK economy by £66 billion by 2029.
The upgrade is expected to enhance productivity, improve public services, and enable over 620,000 people, including parents and older workers, to return to work. It could also support over a million people working from home, saving time and reducing carbon emissions.
The economic benefits include an additional £19 billion annually from remote work and a £1,900 increase in average property values for homes with full fibre.
The healthcare sector is set to benefit from five million online GP appointments annually by 2029, doubling current figures, while schools could see improved pass rates for 13,000 primary and 8,700 secondary students in key subjects.
Clive Selley, Openreach’s CEO, called the network a “growth and prosperity engine,” while Dr Murray Ellender, CEO of eConsult, highlighted its potential to expand digital healthcare access.
The rollout has already reached 16 million UK properties, with plans to cover 25 million by 2026 and up to 30 million by 2030. People can check availability in their area and upgrade through their broadband provider.