Openreach unveils 163 exchanges set for fibre broadband upgrades

Another 163 exchanges will be upgraded to support BT's fibre optic broadband service during 2013, the telecoms giant has announced.

Openreach, the company's local access network business, revealed the exchanges are spread across the UK, from Torquay in Devon to Kilbirnie in Scotland.

This latest deployment will bring more than one million properties within reach of BT's super-fast broadband network, which already passes 11 million homes and businesses.

By the end of 2014, Openreach is aiming to make next-generation broadband speeds available to two-thirds of the UK.

The rollout uses a mix of fibre-to-the-cabinet and fibre-to-the-premises technology, both of which are open to rival communications providers on a wholesale basis.

Mike Galvin, managing director of network investment at Openreach, said the announcement is "great news" for 163 communities throughout the country.

Although the bulk of exchanges to be included in BT's national rollout have now been announced, Mr Galvin stated the company is eager to further boost its coverage with the help of Broadband Delivery UK funding.

"We will continue to engage with local government and communities to try and give as many people as possible access to the benefits of fibre broadband," he added.