Full-fibre broadband is set to reach “almost all” homes and businesses by the end of 2027, the UK’s media and telecoms regulator has said, as it prepared to enter the “final phase” of the rollout of fibre optic connections.
The UK has seen one of the fastest rates of roll out of full-fibre broadband in Europe, according to Ofcom, with industry investment ranging between £3bn and £6bn each year since 2021, which it put down to incentivising existing networks to invest, while making it cheaper and easier for new entrants to the market to build using Openreach’s ducts and telegraph poles.
“The roll out of full fibre across the UK is a British infrastructure success story,” said Natalie Black, Ofcom’s Group Director for Networks and Communications.
“It means that people and businesses in nearly all corners of the country will get faster, better broadband, fuelling economic growth and enabling technologies like artificial intelligence to benefit everyone.”
Only 24% of UK premises were covered by full-fibre networks in May 2021, according to Ofcom. That figure shot up to 69% by July 2024 and is projected to hit 96% in 2027.
“This level of build exceeds what we expected in 2021, giving even more consumers and businesses access to high quality gigabit-capable networks at increasingly attractive prices,” Ofcom said, adding that build by rival networks has led to a significant increase in the number of premises with a choice of network, with 70% of premises now having access to at least two networks and 22% of premises have access to at least three networks.
Attracting customers from legacy networks to full fibre is key to the success of all providers, Ofcom said. As of July 2024 average take-up had risen to 35% of premises where full fibre is available, well short of its overall availability.
Ofcom today published proposals to change how it regulates telecoms markets from 2026 which it said were “designed to promote competition and investment in high quality gigabit-capable networks.”
The watchdog is now consulting on the proposals, with a deadline of 12 June for responses.
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