Openreach, BT's (NYSE: BT) local access network business, is ramping up its employee base, announcing that it will create 1,600 new engineering positions to keep up with its ongoing rollout of its fiber-based broadband services.
The new engineering recruits will be tasked with enhancing customer service by cutting installation and repair call times and bringing the service into new communities.
Earlier this month, BT announced that it passed over 19 million UK homes with fiber-based broadband service. Initially, BT said it would cover 19 million premises with fiber by the end of 2015. However, it passed that goal in March of this year, about 21 months ahead of schedule.
In addition, Openreach plans to track its customer service performance more closely by publishing regular reports on its website beginning this summer. BT said that these reports will illustrate how it "is delivering against its service targets."
Many of the engineering roles will be taken by former UK Armed Forces men and women. A particular focus is centered on hiring more female engineers and Openreach has launched a campaign encouraging women to enter the world of engineering.
This latest hiring effort is just one of many it has taken in recent years as it continues to scale its broadband footprint. In 2012, Openreach increased the total number of new engineers hired to over 1,000 with a focus on employing ex-armed forces personnel.
For more:
- see the release
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