Openreach has started work on a new ultrafast broadband network for Axminster – giving residents and businesses in the town access to some of the fastest, most reliable broadband anywhere in the UK. 

The build is motoring along, with 30 per cent of the homes and businesses already able to order a Full Fibre service through a provider of their choice. 

The once-in-a-generation, Full Fibre upgrade will enable thousands of local people and businesses to connect to any platform or device at gigabit-capable speeds and to trade and compete for decades to come.

Engineers started work in the town centre earlier this year and the build is expected to reach a majority of local homes and businesses over the next 12 months.

The build will be delivered with the support of Openreach's partners, Circet, which will be supporting with initial surveys and planning of the new network.

Full Fibre broadband provides more reliable, resilient and future-proof connectivity; with fewer faults; more predictable, consistent speeds and enough capacity to easily meet growing data demands.  

Local people can register for updates using the fibre checker on the Openreach website and, as the build progresses, check their addresses to see when services are available.

Andy Keast, chief engineer for the South West, Openreach said: "We're bringing ultrafast broadband to Axminster and we want to let local people know what to expect.

"This is a major infrastructure upgrade, people will already have seen more engineering teams around town, but we're working closely with East Devon District Council and Axminster Town Council to keep disruption to a minimum.

"Wherever possible, we're using our existing network of ducts and poles to avoid roadworks and disturbance. But there may be places where we need to install new ducts, fibre cables and poles because it's the only way to make sure local households can be included in the upgrade. 

"We're using the latest technology, like tiny underground cameras that inspect ducts for blockages, to avoid digging up the streets where possible.

"We know that connecting everyone in the South West to our fast and reliable service would result in multi-billion pound economic boost. Axminster is part of our balanced build approach, which includes dozens of rural Devon towns and villages.

"We want to make sure that progress is evenly spread and that people in all parts of the South West can work from home efficiently and build opportunities in their community."

Cllr Jill Farrow, Mayor of Axminster, commented: "Axminster Town Council fully understands that reliable, fast and affordable internet access is now considered a basic utility like water, gas and electricity."

"The council is delighted to be working with Openreach to promote the rollout of Full Fibre broadband in the town as part of a localised high-value capital project and we look forward to seeing the results of the scheme, both in terms of improved economic output, better social and digital engagement with residents and a welcome benefit to our students, for whom digital connectivity is a prerequisite to support their educational achievements."

Stephen Martin, UK CEO of Circet, added: "We are delighted to be working in partnership with Openreach to deliver a full fibre upgrade in Axminster. 

"As demand for full fibre increases Circet will continue to safely provide a high-quality product in support of Openreach's delivery ambitions. 

"I would like to thank Openreach for choosing Circet as its build partner. We look forward to further strengthening our partnership to deliver Ultrafast Full Fibre to Axminster.''

Openreach is building a new Full Fibre network across Devon, with Axminster one of the more than 80 towns, villages and cities to be upgraded.

Across Devon, more than 100,000 homes and businesses in places like Brixham, Okehampton, Exeter and Torquay already have access to the new, ultra-reliable fibre services and investment is planned in dozens of other Devon locations such as Ashburton, Croyde, Modbury, South Brent and Tor Cross.

To find out where we're building, visit the map at www.openreach.com/fibre-broadband/where-when-building-ultrafast-full-fibre-broadband