Accelerating broadband network expansion while improving vehicle fleet sustainability requires operators to prioritise AI implementation.
Telecom companies constantly balance environmental targets with the logistical demands of upgrading physical infrastructure. In partnership with Google Cloud, Openreach is deploying data science alongside AI to improve the efficiency of its vehicle fleet and speed up the delivery of gigabit full-fibre connections to millions of homes.
Broadband network expansion and fleet sustainability via AI
Managing a nationwide field workforce requires accurate data modelling to prevent wasted resources. Openreach relies on tools including BigQuery and Vertex AI to manage its 24,000-van fleet, the second largest commercial fleet in the country.
James Tappenden, MD 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’s technologies to real operational challenges, we’re seeing practical, measurable benefits—from connecting more families to gigabit broadband faster, to cutting vehicle emissions across our workforce.”
Openreach’s vehicles travel nearly 200 million miles annually to support broadband network expansion. By migrating telematics data to the cloud, the operator applies geoanalytics to curb engine idling and cut unnecessary mileage, generating millions of pounds in annual savings.
This data-driven approach allows planners to determine exactly where electric vans can replace diesel vehicles based on charging availability and real-world route usage. As a result, the faster rollout of electric vehicles removes approximately 10,000 tonnes of CO2e from the roads each year.
Analysing vehicle health data also generates actionable insights to identify potential faults, minimising the time vehicles spend off the road. More generally, connecting physical infrastructure to virtual planning environments offers logistical advantages when navigating national rollouts.
Openreach built a digital replica of UK transportation corridors using Google’s Vertex AI. This “digital twin” system integrates the existing broadband network with national waterways, railways, and roads, covering 35 million businesses and homes. Visualising this massive dataset allows planners to pinpoint eligible locations and extend full-fibre connections sooner, enabling a smarter approach to broadband network expansion.
Automating code conversion for cloud engineering
Organisations often struggle with legacy systems that slow down innovation. Openreach addresses this technical debt using Gemini Enterprise.
Rather than manually rewriting old architecture, data engineers use the agent orchestration platform to automatically convert legacy queries into production-ready BigQuery code. Offloading this repetitive maintenance has decreased time-to-insight by upwards of 50 percent. Freeing engineers from routine manual code maintenance allows them to prioritise building new solutions.
Maureen Costello, VP for UKI and SSA at Google Cloud, commented: “By harnessing the power of 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 British public and the environment.”
This case study demonstrates how targeted data tools can solve specific broadband network expansion logistical hurdles. Replacing broad concepts with practical applications ensures technology investments deliver true efficiency gains.
See also: How neuromorphic AI will limit power demands in 6G networks
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