A record 20.7 million homes in the UK now have access to full-fiber broadband.
Ofcom’s latest Connected Nations report on broadband and mobile networks revealed that full-fiber broadband coverage across UK homes has risen to 69%, up from 57% (17.1 million homes) in September 2023.
Northern Ireland leads the region, with 93% of homes able to access this faster and more reliable service.
When combined with cable networks, 25 million homes—83% of the UK—now have gigabit-capable broadband. This progress reflects the government’s goal to achieve 85% coverage by 2025, which is currently on track.
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Full-Fiber Broadband Breakdown
The number of UK households subscribed to full-fiber broadband services grew from 28% to 35%—approximately 7.5 million households—between May 2023 and July 2024.
Notably, the adoption of full-fiber broadband is higher in rural areas. Meanwhile, 52% of rural households with access have signed up, compared to just 32% in urban areas.
As more customers upgrade to higher-speed broadband packages, the UK’s average maximum download speed has also risen, increasing from 170 Mbit/s to 223 Mbit/s in 2024.
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Superfast and Satellite Broadband Breakdown
The latest report on the UK’s communications networks also highlights several significant developments, including an increase in superfast broadband adoption, which now reaches 75% of residential and business premises, up from 72%.
This milestone triggers a review of the broadband universal service obligation (USO) by the government, which can request Ofcom to assess certain aspects once the 75% threshold is reached. The USO ensures that every UK household has the right to request an upgrade to “decent” broadband—defined as speeds of 10 Mbit/s for downloads and 1 Mbit/s for uploads.
The report also noted a decrease in the number of premises unable to access decent broadband, dropping from 61,000 to 58,000, with projections indicating this could fall to 26,000 by mid-2027.
Additionally, satellite broadband up-take has more than doubled, with Starlink connections reaching 87,000 in 2024, primarily in rural areas, up from 42,000 the previous year.
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5G Adoption Breakdown
The rollout of 5G networks in the UK is also expanding, with 5G now accounting for 21% of all monthly mobile data traffic. Approximately 50% of mobile handsets are now 5G capable.
Mobile network operators’ 5G coverage outside premises varies between 61% and 79%, with coverage from at least one operator increasing to 95%, up from 93% last year. However, the distribution of 5G coverage remains uneven across the UK, with 5G deployed in 42% of urban sites compared to just 16% in rural areas.
While 5G adoption increases, 4G remains the dominant mobile technology, carrying 78% of monthly mobile data traffic. 4G coverage across the landmass now stands at 95%, an increase from 93% last year, largely due to the Shared Rural Network initiative.
Meanwhile, legacy 3G networks are being phased out, with two mobile network operators already completing the process. The shutdown of 2G is expected by 2033.
Ofcom also plans to improve its mobile coverage reporting to better reflect customer experiences. As part of this effort, the mobile web-checker tool will be overhauled and relaunched in the summer.
