Full-Fibre Broadband Coming to Rural High Peak as Openreach Wins Project Gigabit Contract

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Full-Fibre Broadband is Finally Coming to Rural High Peak — Openreach Wins Gigabit Contract

Thousands of homes and businesses in rural parts of the High Peak are set to receive full-fibre broadband for the first time, after Openreach was awarded a major government contract to connect some of the most digitally isolated communities in Derbyshire.

The contract forms part of the government's Project Gigabit programme, which aims to bring gigabit-capable broadband to hard to reach rural areas across the UK. The Peak District has long been one of the most underserved regions in England, with many villages, farms, and small businesses relying on slow, unreliable connections that have held back both residents and local commerce.

Openreach's contract covers rural parts of Derbyshire including areas within the High Peak, where properties have been left behind by previous commercial rollouts. Under the agreement, engineers will build new full-fibre infrastructure capable of delivering speeds of up to 1 Gbps, more than 100 times faster than the national average for rural connections.

For residents in villages such as Hayfield, Whaley Bridge, and Chinley who have struggled with sluggish broadband for years, the news will be particularly welcome. Farmers, remote workers, and small businesses in the area have repeatedly highlighted poor connectivity as one of the biggest barriers to growth in the region.

Openreach has committed to completing the rollout within a defined timeframe, though specific build schedules for individual communities have yet to be confirmed. Residents can check whether their property is included in the contract area via the government's Gigabit Voucher Scheme website.