Openreach Opens for Business

LONDON -- Openreach – the new part of BT created to deliver installation and maintenance services on behalf of Britain’s telephone and internet service providers – is now open for business. An extensive national poster and press advertising campaign will today mark the launch of the organisation, and with 3.5 million customer visits every year across the length and breadth of Britain, 25,000 engineers and 22,000 vans, Openreach is set to become a household name.

Containing almost all of BT’s field force of engineers, Openreach has been created to install, provide and maintain “the first mile” of connections, fibres and wiring which link millions of homes and businesses in Britain to their communications providers’ networks via local BT exchanges.

Steve Robertson, Openreach’s chief executive, commented: "The big day has arrived. The whole Openreach team is utterly committed to providing Britain’s communication providers with equivalent access to the local access network and to serving all our customers in the same even-handed way. This is an exciting time for the telecoms industry and Openreach has a vital role to play in making sure that Britain’s consumers and businesses have access to the most innovative and competitive communications market in the world. We’re ready to do our bit.”

“As well as having a new name, the business also has a new look” continued Steve at the launch event for the business’ customers – more than 200 telephone and internet service providers - in London today. “Our 22,000 vans are being re-liveried and will be instantly recognisable by the bright multi-coloured waves that stretch the length of each vehicle.”

BT Group plc (NYSE: BT; London: BTA)