The UK government is on track to meet its target of providing full-fibre, gigabit-capable broadband to 85% of the population by 2025, according to recent figures from Ofcom. Currently, 69% of households, or 20.7 million homes, can access full-fibre broadband, a significant increase from 57% in September 2023.
When cable broadband is included, 83% of the country already has gigabit broadband. The rollout is particularly successful in Northern Ireland, where 94% of homes have full-fibre access, while Wales lags behind at 74%.
The £5bn Project Gigabit, launched in 2021, aims to improve broadband connectivity in underserved areas, especially in rural regions. The program targets locations that commercial telecom companies may overlook and provides these areas with the fastest internet available.
Ofcom’s Natalie Black described this year’s broadband progress as a “record-breaking” achievement, making fast and reliable broadband more accessible for businesses and consumers alike. The government’s efforts aim to accelerate the UK’s post-Covid recovery by fostering economic growth through better connectivity.
Despite the improvements in broadband infrastructure, more work is still to be done to encourage more households to adopt gigabit broadband services. By July 2024, only 35% of households had signed up for full-fibre connections, although this marks an increase from 28% in May 2023.
UK Nears 85% Gigabit Broadband Target with Rapid Fibre Expansion and Rising Adoption Rates
Notably, rural areas are more likely to adopt high-speed internet, with 52% of rural homes connected, compared to 32% of urban homes. Meanwhile, the take-up of superfast broadband, which offers speeds of at least 30 Mbit/s, has risen to 75% of residential and business premises.
While fibre broadband deployment progresses, other technologies like satellite broadband and mobile networks are also expanding. Elon Musk’s Starlink service has significantly grown, now serving 87,000 homes in the UK, mostly in rural areas. However, 5G coverage remains uneven, with urban areas seeing 42% of sites covered, while only 16% of rural sites are 5G-enabled.
Despite this, 95% of the UK population can access 5G from at least one mobile operator, and the 5G rollout is expected to receive a boost from Vodafone’s acquisition of Three, which involves a £11bn investment plan to enhance network infrastructure.
Project Gigabit has not only expanded fibre broadband but has also contributed to a more competitive broadband market. New companies like City Fibre and smaller alternative networks (altnets) such as Community Fibre, Toob, and MS3 are emerging as competitors to established providers like Openreach and Virgin Media.
Recent investments have brought gigabit broadband to rural areas in regions like Yorkshire, Nottinghamshire, West Lincolnshire, and the New Forest, further increasing broadband access and choice for consumers across the UK.
