- Ofcom says 80% of UK homes can now access gigabit-capable broadband, with full-fibre reaching 62%.
- Coverage gaps remain in rural and low-density areas despite rapid network build-outs.
What happened: The UK moves closer to nationwide gigabit broadband as new Ofcom figures show a major coverage milestone reached.
According to Ofcom’s latest Connected Nations update, 80% of UK homes now have access to gigabit-capable broadband, up from 78% in January. Full-fibre coverage has increased to 62%, an improvement from 60% in the previous quarter. The progress is mainly driven by rollouts from Openreach, Virgin Media O2, and smaller altnets such as CityFibre. Despite the progress, around 1% of UK premises—roughly 289,000 properties—remain without access to what Ofcom defines as “decent broadband”, which is at least 10Mbps download and 1Mbps upload.
The government’s Project Gigabit initiative, launched in 2021, is also funding expansion into harder-to-reach areas. As of March 2025, approximately $1.3 billion in contracts have been awarded to suppliers including Quickline and Wessex Internet, to bring high-speed internet to rural locations.
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Why this is important
The progress reflects significant momentum in the UK’s broadband upgrade effort but highlights an emerging digital divide between urban and rural areas. While cities see high-speed infrastructure from multiple providers, rural communities often rely on a single network or none at all. This disparity has economic implications, especially for remote workers, small businesses, and students in underserved regions.
Ofcom’s figures also come as the government targets nationwide gigabit coverage by 2030. However, with 20% of homes still lacking gigabit access—and most of these in low-density zones—the pace of rollout must accelerate. Earlier this year, INCA (Independent Networks Cooperative Association) warned that red tape and funding delays could slow the expansion of smaller broadband firms that are vital to rural coverage.
The UK is not alone in grappling with broadband equity. The European Union’s Digital Decade targets include universal gigabit access by 2030, with Germany and France also focusing on public-private partnerships to close rural gaps. The UK’s current trajectory is promising, but sustained investment and regulatory clarity will be needed to meet long-term goals.
