Accelerating broadband network expansion while improving fleet sustainability requires telecom operators to prioritise AI-driven solutions.
Telecommunications companies must balance environmental goals with the practical demands of upgrading physical networks. In collaboration with Google Cloud, Openreach is using data science and AI to boost the efficiency of its vehicle fleet and accelerate delivery of gigabit full-fibre connections to millions of homes.
Broadband network expansion and fleet sustainability via AI
Coordinating a nationwide field workforce depends on accurate data modelling to avoid wasted time and resources. Openreach uses tools such as BigQuery and Vertex AI to manage its 24,000-van fleet, the second largest commercial fleet in the UK.
James Tappenden, Managing Director of Fibre First & Shared Services at Openreach, said: “As the builder of the UK’s largest broadband network and operator of the country’s second largest commercial vehicle fleet, we take our responsibilities seriously.
“By applying Google Cloud technologies to real operational challenges, we’re seeing practical, measurable benefits — from connecting more families to gigabit broadband faster to reducing vehicle emissions across our workforce.”
Openreach’s fleet travels nearly 200 million miles each year to support network expansion. By migrating telematics data to the cloud and applying geoanalytics, the operator reduces engine idling and unnecessary mileage, saving millions of pounds annually.
This data-led approach enables planners to identify where electric vans can replace diesel vehicles based on charging availability and actual route patterns. Faster adoption of electric vehicles is estimated to remove about 10,000 tonnes of CO2e from roads each year.
Analysing vehicle health data also produces actionable insights to detect potential faults early, minimising downtime. More broadly, linking physical infrastructure to virtual planning environments offers logistical advantages when coordinating national rollouts.
Openreach has created a digital replica of UK transportation corridors using Google’s Vertex AI. This digital twin integrates the broadband network with waterways, railways and roads, covering 35 million businesses and homes. Visualising this extensive dataset helps planners identify eligible locations and accelerate full-fibre connections, enabling a smarter and more efficient approach to network expansion.
Automating code conversion for cloud engineering
Legacy systems and technical debt can slow innovation. Openreach addresses these challenges with Gemini Enterprise.
Instead of manually rewriting older code and architecture, data engineers use an agent orchestration platform to automatically convert legacy queries into production-ready BigQuery code. Automating repetitive maintenance tasks has cut time-to-insight by more than 50 percent, freeing engineers to focus on building new solutions.
Maureen Costello, Vice President for UKI and SSA at Google Cloud, commented: “By harnessing AI and empowering its engineering teams with Gemini Enterprise, Openreach isn’t just visualising data; it is using it to make real-world changes that benefit the public and the environment.”
This case study shows how targeted data tools can resolve specific logistical hurdles in broadband expansion. Moving from abstract concepts to practical applications ensures technology investments deliver measurable efficiency gains and environmental improvements.
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