Sizewell C has worked with Openreach to accelerate the rollout of fibre broadband connections in the area around Leiston and partially funded public Wi-Fi for the town centre.
As part of the development of the nuclear power station in East Suffolk, which is still yet to receive its crucial final investment decision (FID), Openreach has connected Sizewell C to the fibre broadband network.
Sizewell C has used opportunity of the works needed to connect the power station to the rest of the country’s fibre network, to improve connectivity for the local communities in and around the nearby town of Leiston.
“More than 5,000 homes in and around Leiston can now access ultra-reliable Full Fibre broadband after Sizewell C’s local investment enabled Openreach to accelerate their build plans for the local area,” Sizewell C said in a statement.
It added that over the past 12 months, engineers from Openreach had built a new high-speed fibre network connection linking Leiston to a “local exchange” in Saxmundham to the north.
“As a result, residents and businesses in Leiston, Aldeburgh, Saxmundham, and Halesworth can now benefit from drastically improved broadband speeds and greater reliability,” Sizewell C said.
Local residents can use Openreach’s Fibre Checker to see if they could benefit from the upgraded connection.
To order ‘Full Fibre’ broadband, they can “either contact their existing provider, or any of the major broadband providers, including BT/EE, Sky, Vodafone, and TalkTalk, and many more that use the Openreach network,” according to Sizewell C.
Openreach senior operations & fibre manager for East Anglia Tom Read said: “We’re pleased that more than 5,000 homes in and around Leiston – including Aldeburgh, Saxmundham and Halesworth – can now access Full Fibre broadband, thanks to our partnership with Sizewell C.
“Full Fibre is the UK’s most reliable broadband technology, providing gigabit-capable speeds that support seamless connectivity across multiple devices – perfect for busy households, home working, or streaming entertainment.
“The work took around 12 months to complete, and throughout the process, our engineers did everything they could to keep disruption to a minimum for local residents.”
Sizewell C head of regional external affairs and development Marjorie Barnes said: “We all know how important it is to have a good broadband connection, so I’m delighted we’ve played a part in improving connectivity for thousands of families.
“This is another great example where Sizewell C has worked with partners to benefit the community.”
Leiston town centre getting public Wi-Fi thanks to Sizewell C
In an earlier announcement from Sizewell C in April 2025, the power station company said it was providing partial funding for an expansion of East Suffolk Council’s free public Wi-Fi network to Leiston.
Sizewell C provided “£10,000 to help fund new equipment for free public Wi-Fi in Leiston town centre,” the company said.
The investment funds the deployment of Wi-Fi infrastructure provided and managed by Elephant Wi-Fi to cover roads including High Street and Main Street.
East Suffolk Council cabinet member for economic development and transport Tim Wilson said: “By providing information on the number of visitors to Leiston, the busiest times of day and where people visit most frequently, our free Wi-Fi and other digital projects are helping us provide tailored data-based support to businesses in the town.
“By extending the Wi-Fi coverage to reach more of the shopping area of the town, it is hoped this will encourage more people to visit and stay longer, further supporting local businesses.”
Sizewell C senior regional development project manager Jack Raven said: “We want to do infrastructure differently here – and a big part of that ambition is to ensure that the benefits of Sizewell C are felt across our host town.
“Working with East Suffolk Council to extend this free provision is another great example of how this project can deliver for Leiston.
“Internet access is key to so many facets of daily life, and this extension will enable further digital connectivity to better access services that benefit the people who live and work here, as well as visitors.”
Like what you’ve read? To receive New Civil Engineer’s daily and weekly newsletters click here.
