According to new data released by Ofcom, 84 percent of UK premises now have access to gigabit-capable broadband, bringing the country closer to achieving the Government’s target of 85 percent coverage by the end of 2025.
The data, from Ofcom’s Connected Nations Spring update, shows that by January 2025, 27.2 million premises, or 84 percent, could access broadband speeds of 1000 Mbit/s or more, a rise from 82 percent in July 2024. In addition, the availability of full-fibre broadband has increased, with 73 percent of UK premises, or 23.7 million, able to access this faster and more reliable service, up from 67 percent the previous year.
There is progress in reducing the number of premises without decent broadband, defined as speeds of at least 10 Mbit/s for downloads and 1 Mbit/s for uploads. The number of such premises has fallen to 48,000, down from 58,000 in 2024, with further improvements expected as publicly funded initiatives bring better broadband to rural and remote areas.
In terms of mobile coverage, outdoor 4G coverage has remained stable since September 2024, with 96 percent of the UK landmass predicted to have good coverage from at least one mobile network operator. 5G coverage has also remained stable, with 62 percent of the UK landmass expected to have coverage from at least one mobile network operator.
The Ofcom report provides a snapshot of broadband and mobile coverage across the UK as of January 2025. It is an interim update to the Connected Nations 2024 report, which relied on data from July 2024 for fixed broadband and from September 2024 for mobile coverage.
While Ofcom acknowledges that the current approach to reporting mobile coverage works well for assessing broad geographic coverage, it also recognizes limitations when determining coverage in specific locations, especially in areas with low signal strength. Efforts are underway to improve coverage reporting, including updates to the mobile web checker.
For fixed broadband, the report continues to track the availability of services from fixed-line and fixed wireless access networks. It also marks the first time that take-up data for full-fibre and fixed wireless access services are included in the report.
The number of homes able to access gigabit-capable broadband has increased to 9 million, or 86 percent of the UK’s 30.2 million homes, up from 83 percent in July 2024. Full-fibre broadband is now available to nearly three-quarters of UK homes, with 22.5 million homes (74 percent) able to access it, marking an increase of five percentage points or 1.8 million homes over the past six months.
The report also tracks the progress of publicly funded broadband rollout efforts, estimating that around 41,000 premises still lack access to decent broadband and will not be covered by these initiatives within the next twelve months. Mobile network coverage remains strong, with 4G coverage reaching 96 percent of the UK landmass and 5G coverage extending to 62 percent of the landmass.
Overall, the report shows continued progress in improving both broadband and mobile coverage across the UK, with advancements in both gigabit-capable and full-fibre broadband availability. The improvements in mobile and broadband infrastructure are expected to continue, with further coverage and service improvements in the coming years.
TelecomLead.com News Desk
