Broadband Research

A Collection of Research Studies and Reports on UK Broadband

This page provides a resource for research studies and reports on UK broadband. All references are provided for further research, and full summaries are given below. The reports include the Connected Nations 2024 (OfCom) and UK Broadband Statistics 2024 (USwitch), which comprehensively analyse the UK’s broadband and mobile connectivity landscape. These studies focus on infrastructure improvements, accessibility, pricing, and customer experiences, offering insights into the progress of technologies like full-fibre broadband, gigabit-capable networks, and 5G coverage.

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OfCom Research on Broadband & Mobile

Ofcom: Connected Nations 2024 – Updated Insights for 2025

The Connected Nations 2024 report remains a cornerstone for understanding the evolution of the UK’s communications infrastructure. As we progress into 2025, recent government investments, emerging 6G pilot programs, and sustainability initiatives are reshaping the digital landscape. This update reflects additional research findings on fixed broadband, mobile network advancements, and future connectivity trends.

Overview

Ofcom’s commitment to ensuring that communications work for everyone continues to drive innovation. The 2024 report, now enhanced with 2025 research, details progress in full-fibre, fixed wireless access (FWA), and 5G mobile networks—while also previewing emerging 6G trials and green connectivity initiatives. An upgraded interactive dashboard now features real-time analytics, allowing for granular exploration of regional performance and future projections.

England: Continued Leadership in Connectivity

Broadband: Over two-thirds (69%) of English households now have full-fibre access, with gigabit-capable coverage reaching 84% of premises. Uptake has hit 33%—with 6 million connections established. Satellite broadband has doubled to approximately 70,000 connections, and recent public funding combined with FWA initiatives could soon reduce the 275,000 underserved premises to an estimated 30,000.
Mobile: With 5G outdoor coverage now spanning between 92% and 96% of premises, and near-universal (99%) 4G coverage, England continues to set the pace. Enhanced rural network investments via the Shared Rural Network (SRN) Programme and early-stage 6G pilot research are setting the stage for the next leap in mobile technology.

Scotland: Bridging the Digital Divide

Broadband: Full-fibre network access in Scotland now covers 62% of homes, with gigabit-capable speeds available to 77%. Rural areas have seen superfast coverage rise to 83%, with full-fibre uptake at 35% and satellite connections nearly doubling to 11,000. Approximately 16,000 premises remain underserved, spotlighting ongoing connectivity challenges.
Mobile: Scotland’s 5G outdoor coverage now reaches 91% of premises, while geographic 4G coverage ranges from 96% to 98%89%—the highest across the UK—thanks to targeted network improvements.

Wales: Rapid Expansion and Enhanced Rural Connectivity

Broadband: Full-fibre networks now cover 68% of residential premises in Wales, with gigabit-capable speeds reaching 74%. Uptake has surged to 39%, though around 8,000 premises are still waiting for adequate service. With new public funding, roughly 7,000 of these may soon be brought within the broadband Universal Service Obligation (USO).
Mobile: Mobile connectivity in Wales has improved significantly—5G coverage now extends to 86% of premises. Enhanced 4G coverage varies between 83% and 89%, with rural areas now benefiting from a 13 percentage point improvement, reaching 72% coverage.

Northern Ireland: Leading in Broadband Availability

Broadband: Northern Ireland leads with 93% full-fibre availability, supported by superfast broadband reaching 98% of premises. Full-fibre uptake has climbed to 53% (around 430,000 connections), and the number of underserved premises has dropped to 2,000.
Mobile: Robust 5G outdoor coverage (at 92% with high confidence) and 4G availability (ranging from 89% to 95%, with 97% available outdoors from all MNOs) ensure Northern Ireland remains a leader in mobile connectivity.

Fixed Broadband and Voice Services: The Backbone of Digital Life

Coverage: In England, fixed broadband—via technologies like ADSL, FTTC, HFC, and FTTP—has grown substantially. Full-fibre access increased by 13 percentage points since September 2023, now reaching 69% of premises, with gigabit-capable coverage at 84%.
Service Take-Up: Full-fibre uptake now stands at 33% nationally, with urban areas leading (71% coverage) versus rural areas (52%). Small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) have boosted full-fibre access to 63%, up by 12 percentage points from the previous year.
Alternative Solutions: Satellite broadband connections have doubled to 70,000, while 96% of premises can access MNO FWA services and 6% rely on WISP FWA networks.
USO Initiatives: With ongoing investments, the number of premises without decent fixed-line broadband is projected to drop dramatically—from 275,000 to around 30,000—with 7,000 set to qualify for USO support.
Voice Services: The transition from traditional landlines to VoIP is well underway. As legacy systems retire by January 2027, “pre-digital phone lines” offer interim solutions for complex cases, ensuring continuous, robust voice connectivity.

Mobile Services: Faster, Smarter, and More Ubiquitous

5G Rollout: In England, 5G outdoor coverage now spans 92–96% of premises. Leading MNOs like BT/EE report Very High Confidence coverage at 78% and High Confidence at 81%. Additionally, early-stage 6G pilot programs in select regions are testing ultra-low latency and enhanced IoT integration.
4G Excellence: With 4G coverage reaching 99% of England’s landmass—99%+ in urban areas—and indoor coverage at 89%, the network remains highly reliable. The SRN Programme has further boosted rural 4G connectivity, achieving geographic coverage of 94–95%.
Mobile Traffic Trends: Mobile data traffic has surged by 18% (from 905 PB to 1,069 PB monthly), with 4G networks handling around 78% of the total load.
On-the-Move Connectivity: Coverage along major roads is robust, with 84% covered by all MNOs and in-vehicle voice services available on 88% of these routes, ensuring that connectivity remains seamless while traveling.

Investment and Future Plans

The digital infrastructure in the UK continues to benefit from strong government and private sector investments. The recent Budget allocated an extra £800 million to Project Gigabit to expedite gigabit broadband rollouts across Great Britain by 2030. Concurrently, sustainability initiatives are being introduced to ensure green connectivity, while SRN and early-stage 6G trials set the stage for next-generation networks.

Consumer Benefits and The Road Ahead

As connectivity advances, consumers enjoy faster downloads, smoother streaming, and reliable support for multiple devices. Enhanced indoor and outdoor mobile coverage supports remote working, smart home applications, and emerging IoT ecosystems. While significant progress has been achieved, bridging the digital divide remains essential as new technologies—including 6G and sustainable network solutions—continue to evolve.

For interactive data insights and a more detailed regional breakdown, explore the latest statistics on the updated Ofcom Dashboard.

USwitch UK Broadband Statistics Report

The UK Broadband Statistics 2024 report by Uswitch.com provides valuable insights into the current state of broadband services across the United Kingdom. Whether you’re streaming your favourite shows, working from home, or simply browsing the internet, understanding these statistics can help you make informed decisions about your broadband needs.

Average Cost of Broadband

The average cost of broadband in the UK has risen slightly to £26.90 per month as of 2023. Among the UK nations, Wales offers the most affordable broadband at an average of £26.87 per month, just below the national average. In contrast, Northern Ireland has the highest average cost at £28.04 per month, which is about 4% more than Wales.

Broadband Market Share

BT remains the largest broadband provider in the UK with approximately 9.3 million customers. Following BT, Sky Broadband serves 6.7 million customers, and Virgin Media has a market share of around 5.7 million. Smaller providers like Glide and KCOM cater to niche markets and specific regions, with Glide holding a market share of 400,000 and KCOM less than 140,000 subscribers.

Broadband Pricing by Speed and Type

Broadband costs vary significantly based on speed and connection type:

0-30Mbps: Average cost is £20.01 per month.
30-60Mbps: Average cost rises to £25.62 per month.
60-99Mbps: Slight increase to £25.66 per month.
100-149Mbps: Higher speeds cost around £27.58 per month.
150-249Mbps: Surprisingly cheaper at £21.60 per month.
249-999Mbps: Significant jump to £33.65 per month.
1Gb+: Premium speeds average £46.44 per month.

Among connection types, FTTP (Fibre to the Premises) is the most expensive at £29.86 per month, followed by FTTC (Fibre to the Cabinet) at £26.41. ADSL and Mobile Broadband are cheaper options, averaging £20.33 and £18.70 respectively.

Customer Satisfaction and Common Issues

Customer satisfaction varies across providers:

Plusnet leads with an 89% satisfaction rate.
EE follows with 85%.
Sky Broadband has 82%, while BT and Vodafone both score 83%.
TalkTalk and Virgin Media have lower satisfaction rates at 78% and 81% respectively.

The most common issues reported include:

Service Faults and Provisioning: Account for 33% of complaints.
Complaints Handling: Around 29% of complaints relate to how issues are managed.
Billing and Charges: 16% of complaints are about unexpected fees or pricing structures.

Social Broadband Tariffs

Social broadband tariffs offer reduced-cost broadband for low-income families. However, awareness remains low:

Only 5.1% of UK households on Universal Credit are aware of and use social broadband tariffs.
Take-up has increased by 300% from 55,000 households in February 2022 to 220,000 in February 2023.

Despite the benefits, more than half of eligible customers are unaware of these cheaper options, especially among younger people and men.

Mobile Broadband Statistics

Mobile broadband continues to expand with the rollout of 5G:

5G Coverage: England has the strongest 5G coverage, available for 76%-85% of the country. Northern Ireland and Wales lag behind with 5G coverage reaching 48%-55% and 49%-61% respectively.
4G Dominance: Despite 5G growth, 4G remains the primary mobile broadband technology, ensuring reliable connectivity for most users.

Providers like BT/EE lead in 5G coverage, while the Shared Rural Network (SRN) initiative helps improve mobile connectivity in rural areas.

Investment and Future Plans

Continuous investment is driving broadband improvements:

Government Funding: The Gigabit Broadband Voucher Scheme (GBVS) offers up to £210 million to help cover installation costs for eligible households and businesses.
New Providers: Providers like Community Fibre, Hyperoptic, and G.Network have entered the market, increasing competition and providing more choices for consumers.
Technological Advancements: Ongoing deployments of full-fibre networks and 5G services aim to meet the growing demand for high-speed internet.

Consumer Take-Up and Benefits

As broadband becomes more affordable and widespread, consumer take-up is increasing:

Service Adoption: More people are choosing full-fibre broadband for faster speeds and reliable connections, essential for streaming, gaming, and remote work.
Cost Savings: Competitive pricing and promotional deals help consumers find affordable broadband options that fit their budgets.
Enhanced Connectivity: Improved mobile broadband coverage ensures seamless internet access both indoors and outdoors, supporting a wide range of digital activities.

These benefits contribute to a better digital experience for UK households, enhancing productivity, entertainment, and communication capabilities.