Openreach has awarded EXFO a contract to supply optical test heads and test access switching for the Fibre First program — following a competitive tender process.
Openreach, the United Kingdom’s largest digital infrastructure firm, has committed to delivering 20 million homes passed with FTTP by the mid-to late 2020s as part of Fibre First program.

Openreach has also committed to building out this new digital infrastructure to 4.5 million premises by the end of March 2021. The project is essential for delivering next-generation Fibre-to-the-Premises (FTTP) networks.

EXFO’s cloud-based Nova Fiber solution will equip Openreach to assure its build, thereby accelerating the program and avoiding costly return visits to fix connection problems—additional “truck rolls” more than double operators testing costs.

Following installation, Openreach will be able to remotely monitor its fibre infrastructure supporting the in-life operations of its Full Fibre service.

This announcement comes as Openreach hit a record build rate for its Full Fibre broadband programme. Openreach engineers are now delivering faster, more reliable connectivity to another 40,000 homes and businesses every week, or the equivalent of a home every 15 seconds.

Peter Bell, director, Network Technology, Openreach, said: “This year, our build has been gathering pace and momentum, and we’re determined to match that rapid speed of deployment with the highest standards of build quality build and customer service.”

“Openreach is an early mover in adopting permanent fibre monitoring technology, which will eventually cover all households in the UK. Currently, the FTTH/B penetration rate in the UK stands at 18 percent, and Openreach has an ambitious plan to build out Full Fibre to millions of households and businesses,” Wim te Niet, vice president, Sales – EMEA, EXFO, said.