Ofcom, UK’s telecoms regulator, introduced new measures to accelerate the full-fibre broadband rollout across the nation, to stimulate competition, attract investment, and achieve 96% of the UK broadband coverage for homes and businesses by 2027.
The full-fibre broadband UK proposal will tackle infrastructure gaps and connectivity nationwide for more reliable internet access, with the proposal dating to just a few years ago when less than 25% of UK sites had access to this high-speed technology.
UK’s Ambitious Full-Fibre Goals
The rollout of UK full-fibre broadband is progressive at such a speed, with 69% of the country’s properties – 20.7 million homes and businesses – gaining access to full-fibre broadband by 2024. Ofcom’s new proposals will expand the UK broadband coverage to 96% by 2027, according to the regulatory and competition authority.
Natalie Black, Group Director of Networks and Communications at Ofcom, who led the achievements from 2021, said, “The rollout of full fibre across the UK is a British infrastructure success story.”
Even though the UK’s communication infrastructure is advancing, the country trails some European nations in fibre optic broadband coverage, according to industry sources.
Ofcom’s Connected Nations 2024 report revealed that just 57% of UK homes have access to superfast broadband, lagging behind countries like Portugal, Spain, Sweden, Norway, and France. Alex Tofts, Broadband Genius’s Broadband Expert, too expressed concern about the pace of improvement in the UK.
“Full-fibre coverage of 57 percent means we are lagging behind other European countries such as Portugal, Spain, Sweden, Norway, and France. Further progress is needed to support the nation’s current and future digital demands,” argued Tofts.
Ofcom is proposing changes to its telecoms rules in the ongoing Telecoms Access Review for 2026–2031 to boost market competition and allow more rollout of full-fibre broadband installation throughout the UK.
Key proposals are:
- Fostering Competition
Ofcom plans to expand places with competition in broadband, providing more access for providers to Openreach’s ducts and poles, and tighten regulations on Openreach’s wholesale prices to prevent anti-competitive practices.
- Fiber Installation in Rural UK
In rural areas, Ofcom plans to incentivize Openreach to step up installation of full-fibre broadband and improve installation and repair times.
- Protecting Customers
Ofcom aims to limit Openreach’s pricing for slower speeds (up to 80Mbps) but not faster speeds to encourage investment.
- Shuttering the Copper Network
Ofcom prefers phasing out the copper network to reduce costs and improve broadband quality.
- Long-Term Vision Beyond 2031
After 2031, Ofcom may continue to regulate if needed to foster market competition and infrastructure development.
UK Broadband Coverage Vision
The long-term goal is to achieve near-universal access to high-speed broadband, key for driving economic growth and productivity, and with the ongoing expansion of full-fibre broadband UK networks, the country is well-positioned to be a digital infrastructure leader in Europe.
Ofcom’s proposed regulatory reforms are under consultation until 12 June 2025, with final rulings to be issued by March 2026. The new rules will determine the future of UK broadband coverage, ensuring that full-fibre broadband providers remain ahead of growing demand and full-fibre broadband installation remains efficient and low-cost.
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