Helen warns broadband ‘saga’ could continue for years

Helen Morgan MP has warned that households and businesses face further delays in accessing full‑fibre broadband after the Government handed a failed rollout contract to Openreach.

Helen has long campaigned for improvements to connectivity and said the decision affecting thousands of properties left the needs of rural communities “ignored”.

The Project Gigabit rollout of fast fibre broadband connections to 12,000 properties stalled at around 3,500 after previous contractor Freedom Fibre withdrew from the scheme.

This week the Department for Science, Innovation and Technology confirmed that more than 8,700 premises would be added to an Openreach contract, which already covers other parts of Shropshire.

Helen said that although ministers presented the change as a solution, it was further evidence of the poor handling and lack of urgency that has plagued the North Shropshire rollout from the start.

Helen Morgan, MP for North Shropshire, said: “This saga has been mishandled from beginning to end.

“People in North Shropshire were promised full fibre broadband by the end of this year, and instead they have been left with years of uncertainty, delays and shifting goalposts.

“Rolling these connections into an inferior Openreach contract risks pushing rural communities to the back of the queue yet again. Families and businesses who were promised fast, reliable broadband are now facing the prospect of waiting far longer.”

Helen has repeatedly raised the issue in Parliament and in meetings with ministers, following warnings that some areas might not receive full‑fibre infrastructure until 2030.

Helen confirmed she would be meeting with the Government to stress the need to prioritise North Shropshire within the Openreach contract, with a guarantee that rural premises would not be pushed back further in favour of urban areas.