Regulator’s latest Connected Nations report reveals 27.1m homes can connect to 1000 Mbit per second connections.
More of us than ever before can access gigabit-speed broadband, as shown by the latest Connected Nations report from communications regulator Ofcom.
Photo by Denny Müller / Unsplash
Figures from January 2026 show that 27.1m homes – 89% of the UK – can now access gigabit broadband, defined as delivering speeds of at least 1000 Mbit per second. This is up from 26.4m homes (87% of the UK), last year, 80% this time in 2024 and 73% in 2023.
The government’s Project Gigabit initiative, which aims to ensure that all UK homes have access to gigabit-speed broadband, is focused on the last remaining 11% of the country – often comprising more rural and hard-to-reach locations. Despite the challenges, there’s consistent progress on making those connections. Last year, for example, GoFibre was awarded a £105m contract to provide gigabit-speed broadband to 63,000 homes and businesses in north-east Scotland, for delivery by this summer.
In addition, 82% of UK homes can now access full-fibre broadband which provides fast, reliable connections using lines made entirely of fibre rather than copper. In just the past six months, the number of households able to access full fibre rose by more than a million, from 23.7m to 24.9m.
What’s more, the number of premises unable to access broadband at all – in line with the universal service obligation (USO) criteria – has fallen significantly, from 44,000 to just 4,000. This fall, says Ofcom, has been driven by lower prices for satellite broadband.
Indeed, since the last full Connected Nations report was published in November, the international telecoms provider Starlink has introduced cheaper plans in selected parts of the UK, of particular interest to premises unable to access a decent broadband service from a fixed line or fixed wireless access network.
Ofcom’s latest update also addresses the state of the UK’s mobile infrastructure, showing that outdoor 4G coverage remains stable at 96% of the UK landmass. All mobile networks are gradually improving their 5G coverage, which varies between 76% and 94% by provider. Ofcom’s Map Your Mobile online tool enables users to check which provider is best for their location.
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