Gigabit broadband technology now an option for 70 per cent of the UK

Independent broadband news and information site Think Broadband has revealed that 70 per cent of the UK now has the option to access a gigabit broadband technology. The site recorded that at the end of 2021 the UK gigabit coverage level was 67.6 per cent. Full fibre roll-outs across the UK have boosted this number up to 70.2 per cent, based on a UK premises database count of 31.4 million.

The UK Government’s target is to reach 85 per cent gigabit coverage by the end of 2025. However, according to Think Broadband, rollouts are unlikely to continue at the same speed as they have been to this point. Think Broadband points out that many rollouts overlapped with Virgin Media O2's cable network and, with gigabit figures rising between 0.5 and 0.8 points each month, the 15 points required to reach the government's target could be as many as 30 months away.

However, it has also been noted that the pace of rollouts could change, particularly as providers finish their builds in easier-to-reach parts of the country and the focus moves to more remote and hard-to-reach areas. There is also the possibility that soaring inflation could also impact the rollout of gigabit-capable networks.

According to the Think Broadband figures, gigabit technology is now available to 70.20 per cent of UK premises, with 39.91 per cent having access to full fibre. In England, 71.19 per cent can access gigabit, while 38.85 per cent can access full fibre. For Scotland, gigabit coverage is 64.58 per cent and full fibre 36.54 per cent. For Wales 53.92 per cent can access gigabit speeds and 37.26 per cent full fibre. In Northern Ireland, gigabit coverage is 86.87 per cent and full fibre 85.9 per cent.