Sony Pixel Power calrec Sony

Gigabit broadband reaches one in four homes

17/12/2020

Gigabit broadband reaches one in four homes Add to Your Pages

17 December 2020

New figures reveal broadband and mobile coverage across the UK

8m homes can get gigabit connections offering future-proof, reliable internet

UK's networks remain resilient despite surge in demand during lockdown

Eight million UK homes can now access gigabit-speed broadband fast, reliable connections that are fit for the future Ofcom has found.

The finding is from Ofcom's annual Connected Nations report, which analyses the availability of broadband and mobile services across the UK and each of its nations.

This year's report comes as millions of people continue to work from home due to the coronavirus pandemic, which has seen a significant shift in when, where and how people get online and make calls.

Gigabit-capable broadband offers download speeds of up to 1 Gbit/s, many times faster than the UKs current average broadband speed (72 Mbit/s). This faster connection can better support households wanting to stream, work and study online all at the same time.

Nearly eight million UK homes (27%) can get gigabit broadband, which includes full fibre services and Virgin Media's fastest cable package. Northern Ireland has the highest availability, with more than half of homes (56%) able to get these faster services, while 42% of Scottish homes also have access.

Full fibre reaches 5m homesGigabit speeds can be delivered in two main ways currently: using the latest enhancement to the cable network developed originally for transmitting cable TV (known as DOCSIS 3.1); and full fibre, which uses fibre-optic connections all the way to your home replacing the decades-old copper wires that were installed for the telephone network originally and are more likely to be affected during peak times and severe weather.

Today's report shows full-fibre broadband is now available to just over 5m homes (18%) a rise of 80% in a year, the largest increase to date. Availability in the UK is highest in Northern Ireland (56%), followed by Wales (19%).

One of the main advantages of full fibre over older technologies is its greater reliability. This is important, as the UK's data-hungry households used an average of 429 gigabytes (GB) of data each month in 2020 up 36% from last year (315GB), and 225% from four years ago (132GB in 2016).

Continued investment in fibre services is vital to ensure the UK's networks can keep up with this growing demand. Ofcom has set out proposals to promote competition and supercharge investment in full fibre, and we will publish our final decisions in March.

Lindsey Fussell, Ofcom's Network and Communications Group Director, said: For millions of families this year, life during lockdown would have been even more difficult without reliable broadband to work, learn, play and see loved ones.

So it's encouraging that future-proof, gigabit broadband is now available to a quarter of homes, and we expect that to rise even faster in the coming months.

Getting everyone connectedThe vast majority (96%) of UK homes can now get superfast broadband, which provides download speeds of at least 30 Mbit/s and meets the current needs of most households. But within rural areas, this falls to 81%.

And 0.6% of properties across the UK (around 190,000) still cannot get decent' broadband defined as offering download speeds of 10 Mbit/s and upload speeds of 1 Mbit/s. Since earlier this year, some people can get help to get connected under the UK Government's universal broadband service. Requests for these connections are made to BT and KCOM, which will assess properties' eligibility for the scheme.

The UK Government and governments in each of the UK's nations are delivering other projects aimed at making sure people can get the connections they need including in the hardest to reach areas.

5G rollout continuesAll of the UK's mobile network operators continued to roll out new 5G coverage this year, with around 3,000 5G transmitters now in locations across all four nations ten times as many as last year.

4G services are available outdoors from all four networks for 97.5% of UK properties. But this drops to 87% outside rural properties. And while people can get a 4G signal from at least one network near almost all UK properties, areas covering 8.6% of the UK's landmass are 4G not spots', with no mobile network available.

Earlier this year, the mobile industry and UK Government agreed to develop the Shared Rural Network, which aims to improve 4G coverage and help tackle mobile not spots. Ofcom will monitor and report on the progress of the joint programme in future Connected Nations reports.

UK networks stand firmBroadband and mobile networks have been in high demand throughout the year, with the coronavirus leading to major changes in people's usage patterns.

Daytime traffic on home broadband increased significantly as many people worked from home. While mobile networks saw record levels of voice traffic during the first UK-wide lockdown.

Both broadband and mobile services have remained resilient as networks put in place measures to increase capacity and manage this extra demand. Our data shows the number of network resilience and security problems including outages reported to us was broadly in-line with recent years, suggesting the networks have generally coped well during the coronavirus lockdown periods.

Alongside the UK-wide Connected Nations report, we have published separate reports on how broadband and mobile services compare in each of the UK's nations.

NOTES TO EDITORS

An interactive version of the report, also published today, allows people to look up how coverage compares in their area.

The International Broadband Scorecard compared broadband availability and take-up across 17 different nations.
LINK: https://www.ofcom.org.uk/__search/s/redirect?collection=web&url=https:...
See more stories from ofcom

Most recent headlines

17/02/2025

How BBC Wales returned live to 1985

TVBEurope talks to the team who brought a piece of broadcasting history back to life on BBC Wales last night By Jenny Priestley Published: February 14, 2025 ...

17/02/2025

Film studio tax relief programme gets underway in England

Eligible studios will receive the relief directly from their local authorities, with no need to submit a claim By Matthew Corrigan Published: February 17, 20...

17/02/2025

Empowering progress from within

As DEI initiatives come under pressure in the USA, supporters of Rise, which promotes diversity in the media and entertainment sector, discuss the continuing im...

17/02/2025

EIB Global Lends 125 Million To Finance SES's Medium Earth Orbit Satellites

EIB Global loan will partially fund SES's continued O3b mPOWER medium earth orbit (MEO) fleet expansion enabling additional capacity worldwide. O3b mPOWER s...

15/02/2025

Nielsen's Business Resource Groups celebrate inclusion with BRinG It! Campaign

At Nielsen, Business Resource Groups (BRGs) play a critical role in nurturing a ...

15/02/2025

Innovation to empower creativity: Explore the latest in Lightroom

Innovation to empower creativity: Explore the latest in Lightroom Rob Christensen February 15, 2025 0 Comments Whether you want to remove distracting ...

15/02/2025

Wisycom Expands Into Argentina and Uruguay With EQUAPHON

Wisycom, a worldwide leader in RF technology and provider of wireless solutions, announces a new distribution agreement with EQUAPHON. An Argentinian profession...

15/02/2025

DPA Microphones Adds to Sales and Marketing Teams

DPA Microphones, the leading manufacturer of high-quality microphone solutions, is pleased to welcome Nicholas Nick Mariano and Vincent Vince Divine to the ...

15/02/2025

Tuxera brings media-optimized SMB technology to NAB Show...

Tuxera, a leading provider of quality-assured file systems and networking solutions, will showcase how Tuxera Fusion SMB enables unprecedented performance for m...

15/02/2025

Bitmovin Report Ad Insertion Tops Streaming Challenges a...

Bitmovin's latest Video Developer Report indicates an increasing role of AI, the slow adoption of next-generation codecs, and continuing challenges when it ...

15/02/2025

Oberc Lights Michelin-Star Hotel Guide Promo with DoPchoi...

When Michelin Enterprises set out to promote its prestigious Hotel Guide in the new Sleepless in the Kitchen , campaign, veteran German/Slovenian gaffer Robert...

15/02/2025

Formula E Supercharges Fan Experience with AI-Driven High...

Formula E, the world's first all-electric racing series, revolutionizing motorsport with cutting-edge technology and a commitment to sustainability has sele...

15/02/2025

Agile Content is Now AgileTV

Agile Content, a global leader in TV and video technology solutions, announces its rebranding to AgileTV. The transition to AgileTV stems from a commitment to ...

15/02/2025

Hiltron to Promote Latest-Generation Satellite Communicat...

Hiltron Communications will promote the latest additions to its range of satellite communication products, systems and supporting services at GovSatCom 2025. Th...

15/02/2025

DoPchoice Debuts Airglow Float - Inflatable Round Topligh...

Following the success of the original Airglow Booklight, DoPchoice debuts a new addition to their inflatable line the Float. This lightweight, inflatable, round...

15/02/2025

Marshall to Debut RCP Plus Controller at 2025 NAB Show

LAS VEGAS Marshall Electronics has announced that it will debut its newest camera controller, the RCP Plus, at the 2025 NAB Show at Booth N2649 between April 5 ...

15/02/2025

Gray Media Names Blake Sebo GM of Stations in Anchorage, Alaska

ATLANTA Gray Media has named Blake Sebo as the next general manager of KTUU and KYES, Gray's NBC and CBS affiliates in Anchorage, Alaska....

15/02/2025

DPA Microphones To Introduce CORE+ Technology at NAB Show

KOKKEDAL, Denmark DPA Microphones will feature its new CORE+ technology for distortion-free microphone sound at the 2025 NAB Show, April 5-9, in Las Vegas....

15/02/2025

QuickLink To Unveil StudioPro-NDI, StudioPro-3 at 2025 NAB Show

SWANSEA, U.K. QuickLink will launch StudioPro-NDI and StudioPro-3, two new models of its QuickLine StudioPro video production platform, at the 2025 NAB Show, Ap...

15/02/2025

Live From 2025 NBA All-Star Game Weekend: After 25 Years, Turner Sports All-In For Final Production

Live From 2025 NBA All-Star Game Weekend: After 25 Years, Turner Sports All-In F...

15/02/2025

NASCAR Driver Cam on Max Embraces Cloud-Based Workflow for 2025 Season

NASCAR Driver Cam on Max Embraces Cloud-Based Workflow for 2025 Season Chris Brown of WBD Sports says Mobii will play key part in delivering signals from the tr...

14/02/2025

Spotify's Partner Program Helps Creators Increase Revenue and Consumption of Video Podcasts

Last month, we officially launched the Spotify Partner Program, a powerful new m...

14/02/2025

Four Ways L3Harris Targeting and Sensor Systems are Defining the Future of Land Missions

The future of electro-optical/infrared (EO/IR) land systems is evolving so that ...

14/02/2025

ISE 2025: 5 Reasons to Join Calrec at ISE

Here are 5 reasons why you should attend ISE 2025 Discover more about Calrec: Learn more about Calrec's legacy of innovation in broadcast audio solutions ...

14/02/2025

World Radio Day: On the same wavelength

World Radio Day: On the same wavelength By Graham Murray, International Sales Manager at Calrec To mark World Radio Day, Calrec's International Sales Ma...

14/02/2025

Tegna Inks Deal for Dallas Wings Broadcasts

DALLAS and TYSONS, Va. Tegna has concluded a broadcast rights agreement that makes Tegna's KFAA in Dallas the exclusive local television partner of the Dall...

14/02/2025

Prime Video Makes Significant Upgrades to Its Apple TV App

Amazon's Prime Video has released a new app for Apple TV that the streamer said delivers an improved streaming experiences with faster scrolling, improved s...

14/02/2025

Telos Alliance To Showcase Quasar V3.2 AoIP Software at NAB Show

CLEVELAND Telos Alliance announced a software update for its Axia Quasar XR and SR line of audio-over-IP (AoIP) mixing consoles and will show the offering at th...

14/02/2025

Puget Systems Returns to HPA Tech Retreat 2025 with New Analysis Tools for Puget Bench for Creators

Puget Systems Returns to HPA Tech Retreat 2025 with New Analysis Tools for Puge...

14/02/2025

Glass Animals: Tour of Earth Uses Blackmagic Live Production Workflow

Glass Animals: Tour of Earth Uses Blackmagic Live Production Workflow Brie Clayton February 14, 2025 0 Comments 80six deploys Blackmagic URSA Broadcas...

14/02/2025

Paramount, Youtube TV Avoid Channel Blackout, Will Continue Negotiations

A dispute between Paramount and Youtube TV that would have pulled CBS stations and Paramount's cable channels from the streaming service has been temporaril...

14/02/2025

Stop-motion triumph

Colourist Deidre (Dee) McClelland details how she helped shape the distinct look and feel of whimsical Oscar-nominated stop-motion film, Memoir of a Snail By C...

14/02/2025

BitFire appoints Jim Akimchuk as CEO

BitFire said it intends to introduce forward-looking services that simplify the launch of live production workflows, and enhance real-time collaboration By Jen...

14/02/2025

Arena TV liquidators dismiss banks' defence as unsustainable'

The claim by the liquidators is the latest twist in the ongoing saga of the companys collapse at the end of 2021 By Matthew Corrigan Published: February 14, ...

14/02/2025

YouTube TV Likely To Drop Paramount Channels Today

A carriage dispute between YouTube TV and Paramount could come to a head today (Feb. 13), with the virtual pay TV provider threatening to pull all of the progra...

14/02/2025

LG Opens Its First Virtual Production Studio

ENGLEWOOD CLIFFS, N.J. LG Electronics USA has opened a new in-house, state-of-the-art virtual production studio at its 360,000-square-foot North American headqu...

14/02/2025

CIMM, TVB Release Local TV and Video Innovation Showcase

NEW YORK In a bid to help local broadcasters find new ways of monetizing their content, the Coalition for Innovative Media Measurement (CIMM) and TVB have relea...

14/02/2025

U.S. Senators Blast Weaponization of FCC' Against Broadcasters

WASHINGTON Three Democratic U.S. Senators have sent a stern letter blasting FCC Chair Brendan Carr for the weaponization of the agency for attacking broadcast...

14/02/2025

The Apple TV App Comes to Android

Years after launching the streaming service Apple TV+ in November of 2019, Apple has finally released a version of its steaming app for Android devices....

14/02/2025

Red Adds Nikon Z Mount To V-RAPTOR [X], KOMODO-X Camera Systems

FOOTHILL RANCH, Calif. Red Digital Cinema will make its V-RAPTOR [X] and KOMODO-X camera systems available with Nikon's premier Z Mount, providing filmmaker...

14/02/2025

Fox Sports Revs Up for Daytona 500 With New NASCAR Deal, Some New Tech

DAYTONA, Fla. The Fox Sports production of this year's Daytona 500 will see the addition of a few new tech elements and the continued unfolding of the broad...

14/02/2025

Watch Bryson Battles Blind Audition on The Voice Get a Four-Chair Turn

Watch Bryson Battles Blind Audition on The Voice Get a Four-Chair Turn Michael Bubl said the Boston Conservatory at Berklee musical theater senior might have...

14/02/2025

2025 Daytona 500: FOX Sports Looks To Ride Super Bowl LIX Momentum Into NASCAR Season

2025 Daytona 500: FOX Sports Looks To Ride Super Bowl LIX Momentum Into NASCAR S...

14/02/2025

VEON's Kyivstar and the Come Back Alive Foundation Raise USD 2.6 Million for Demining in Ukraine

14 Feb 2025 VEON's Kyivstar and the Come Back Alive Foundation Raise USD 2....

14/02/2025

Max Renews THE PITT, Starring Noah Wyle, For A Second Season

Max Renews THE PITT, Starring Noah Wyle, For A Second Season Max Warner Bros. Television Group The Pitt New Episodes Of The Medical Drama From John...

14/02/2025

110 Years of Love in Every Frame: A Technicolor Celebration of Romance

This year, Technicolor proudly celebrates 110 years of shaping the magic of cinema pioneering color, visual effects, and innovation that bring unforgettable l...

14/02/2025

NBA All-Star: More Games, More Teams, More Music, More Sound From the Court

NBA All-Star: More Games, More Teams, More Music, More Sound From the Court Turner Sports' team will deploy familiar tech to capture all the audio By Dan D...

14/02/2025

LIV Golf Continues To Innovate With Drones, Data-Driven Graphics, and All-Access Features in Year 4

LIV Golf Continues To Innovate With Drones, Data-Driven Graphics, and All-Access...