We will build new infrastructure in Hemel Hempstead, Kings Langley, Park Street, Redbourn and Wheathampsted in Hertfordshire; Epping Forest and Waltham Forest in Essex; Motherwell in Scotland; and Paignton in Devon.
There will also be additional build in previously announced locations including Aberdeen; Greater Glasgow; Redbridge in Essex; Torquay in Devon; and Bexley and Bromley in Greater London.
Circet will play a crucial role in building the new network to thousands of premises in these locations, with detailed planning activity already under way and construction due to start during the next 18 months.
The contract award follows a competitive tender process and will see Circet supporting Openreach’s ambition to build ‘Full Fibre’ infrastructure to 20 million premises throughout the UK by the mid-to-late 2020s – delivering significant economic, social and environmental benefits for urban communities.
Openreach’s Full Fibre network is already available to more than three million homes and businesses across the UK and Circet is one of nine partners to win contracts which will see that extended to at least a further two million premises. As part of the contract, Circet will be responsible for construction tasks such as: surveying, building, testing and supporting Openreach to commission the network so that customers can place orders.
Conor Foley, MD for Circet UK, said; “We are delighted to have been chosen by Openreach to assist with one of the largest infrastructure projects in the UK presently. Our footprint across the UK has given us an ideal platform to deliver a quality product in a timely and safe manner.
The demand for full fibre has never been greater with a large proportion of the UK workforce continuing to work remotely. Providing communities and essential services with greater connectivity through this Openreach Full Fibre programme gives Circet and our people a real sense of pride in what we do.
I would like to thank the Openreach team for choosing Circet as a build partner. We are really excited and eager to build full fibre networks across the UK in the coming months and years ahead.’’
Kevin Murphy, MD for Fibre and Network Delivery at Openreach, said: “Great connectivity is more important than ever, whether it’s to support home working, to keep in touch with family and friends, or to access digital services like health and education. Full Fibre broadband enables this in spades, and we’re ramping up our own efforts to build our new network to as many homes and businesses across the UK as we can.
“This is one of the largest infrastructure projects in the UK today, and if we’re going to deliver the enormous social, environmental and economic benefits that Full Fibre can bring, it’s important we can build the new network efficiently, safely and without compromising on quality.
“We’re delighted to be partnering with Circet because they’ll be pivotal in helping us achieve those aims for our customers and for the UK as a whole.”
Circet is already recruiting people to help deliver this project and Openreach will be offering world class training as part of this build programme which includes partner use of its 12 training schools across the UK. Interested candidates should visit our carreers page