Driving the UK's digital revolution

Andy Whale, Chief Engineer and MD for Complex Engineering, Openreach: 

What makes Openreach special? I can think of a few things.

For a start we've got the biggest ambition.

Our mission's really clear. We're building the best network with the highest quality of service and we want to make sure that everyone in the UK can be connected.

It's a huge goal and a big responsibility and one we take very seriously.

The second thing is, we do what we say we'll do.

The UK is one of the most competitive markets in the world and we're not just building further, faster than anyone else, we're also connecting more customers to a higher quality and lower cost.

We're building everywhere from big cities to tiny hamlets and remote islands.

We're upgrading huge swathes of the country at an incredible pace, connecting millions of homes and businesses to the world.

And it's not just about the scale and speed.

The third thing is we have very high standards.

We have a high quality network that's built to a very consistent architecture.

As a regulated business we've got the toughest service targets to meet and communication providers depend on us being easy to connect with.

The good news is we do that consistently.

The feedback we get through measures like Net Promoter Score and Trustpilot underlines that.

We're also working responsibly.

We put sustainability and safety at the heart of our strategy and we invest in the technologies and processes which prioritise our environment, our people and the public.

But the thing that makes Openreach really special, our secret sauce, well that's our people. We really have the best in the business.

We've invested heavily in recruitment and training which means we've got the best facilities and skills, the most experience and the latest kit to get the job done. It means no one can connect like Openreach.

We've brought together technologies from all over the world and we've combined them with our own unique knowledge and innovations.

That's why we're getting fibre to even the toughest parts of the country to reach but still the highest quality and the lowest cost.

Our people have built strong partnerships. Whether it's with suppliers and manufacturers, who've built flexibility, quality and strength into our operation over many years or with customers and local authorities who trust us to deliver year after year.

Don't just take our word for it, have a listen to what they say.

Devesh Raj, Chief Operating Officer, Sky - Simply put, Openreach are a great partner because they're committed to our success and so take a collaborative approach to Sky's goals.

Jenny Harrison, Director of Supply & Partnerships, PXC - Your scale and range of products provides the choice and best in class levels of service that our partners demand.

Sharon Meadows, Managing Director Commercial, EE - We're thrilled to see Openreach's fibre build momentum is increasing which in turn is helping us to bring faster, more reliable broadband to even more of our customers.

Richard Tang, CEO, Zen Internet - 4 million new premises per year, fantastic. What an achievement. We're loving the partnership. Thank you Openreach.

Voiceover - 

Every day of the year we manage the UK's network.

We train our engineers so that they can work efficiently and safely.

We are Openreach. We're the people who make the net work.