Openreach was formally launched on 11 January 2006. It is the most visible organisational change as a result of undertakings given by BT as part of the Telecomm Strategic Review.

Openreach employs around 30,000 people, of which 26,000 are in CWU represented grades.

Openreach engineers maintain and build the local access network from the exchange to the end-users' premises. Openreach's role is to provide 'equivalence' or equal access to the local loop for all communication providers.

The CWU is very much involved in the shaping of Openreach at grassroots level, and in seeking to change both the gender and ethnic balance in the workforce.