Local authority · England
DORSET Broadband Coverage
Full-fibre reach, coverage gaps and how DORSET compares across 361 UK local authorities, from Ofcom Connected Nations data.
- 75.8%
- Full-fibre coverage
- #233
- of 361 UK authorities
- −5.2pp
- vs 81% UK average
- 197,995
- premises covered
The verdict
DORSET ranks #233 of 361 local authorities for full-fibre (75.8%) and #63 for the fixed/FWA availability gap (0.2%) - those two corpus maps diverge. It is mid-table for full-fibre, with room to close the gap with 75.8% full-fibre coverage, 5.2pp below the 81% UK average (bottom 35.7%).
Data updated August 2026
Local authority figures are computed directly from Ofcom Connected Nations data, no figure is typed in by an editor. See our editorial standards & corrections policy, the methodology behind these numbers, or report a data error.
Coverage desk
Extract OFCOM-CN-DORSET · DORSET 197,995 premises · England
BOOK-LARGE · RANK-LOWER · FF-MID
- BOOK-LARGE 197,995
- RANK-LOWER #233
- FF-MID 75.8%
- GAP-CLEAR 0.2%
- DELTA-LAG -5.2pp
- IN-NA-MID #193 in England
- PHOTO-FINISH ≈ SCOTTISH BORDERS
- MIX-TIGHT +0.9pp mix
Nearest full-fibre peer: SCOTTISH BORDERS ( -0.1 pp full-fibre)
Instrument codes from this district’s Ofcom Connected Nations extract: premises book, corpus rank, full-fibre band, fixed/FWA gap, UK delta, in-nation rank, photo-finish peer, and gigabit mix, not a service-quality score.
Full-fibre neighbourhood
Nationwide coverage poles and nearest ABS full-fibre peers, not a reprint of the metrics table.
- #1 full-fibre · KINGSTON UPON HULL, 99.6%
- UK average 81%
- DORSET 75.8%
- SCOTTISH BORDERS 75.7%
- EAST DUNBARTONSHIRE 76.1%
- EAST AYRSHIRE 76.2%
- STIRLING 77.2%
Coverage by Technology - DORSET
Where DORSET Sits Nationally
DORSET vs every UK local authority
Full-fibre coverage distribution across all 361 UK local authorities. DORSET's 75.8% places it in the highlighted band.
75.8% Bottom 35.7% ranked #233 of 361 UK authorities
every UK local authority, bucketed by full-fibre coverage
Source: Ofcom Connected Nations Spring 2026 (January 2026 snapshot, published May 2026 (r1))
Full Coverage Data
| Metric | Coverage |
|---|---|
| Full-Fibre (FTTP) | 75.8% |
| Gigabit-Capable | 76.7% |
| Ultrafast Broadband (≥300 Mbit/s) | 76.7% |
| Ultrafast (≥100 Mbit/s) | 76.7% |
| Superfast (≥30 Mbit/s) | 97.7% |
| NGA (any next-generation access) | 99.4% |
| Fixed Wireless Access (FWA) | 0.4% |
| No decent fixed/FWA broadband | 0.2% |
| Full-Fibre Take-Up (all premises) | 34% |
| Full-Fibre Take-Up (covered premises) | 45% |
| Total Premises | 197,995 |
| National Rank (Full-Fibre) | #233 / 361 |
Related
Source: Open Government Licence v3.0.
Nationwide local authorities with similar full-fibre or gigabit coverage
Two Ofcom peer sets for DORSET, both outside England so the neighborhoods are not the same-nation Nearby block above.
Similar full-fibre
Nearest other-nation local authorities by full-fibre coverage (75.8% here; floor ≥10,000 premises).
Similar gigabit
Nearest other-nation local authorities by gigabit-capable coverage (76.7% here).
Frequently Asked Questions
Where does DORSET sit vs the UK full-fibre average?
DORSET has 75.8% full-fibre coverage, 5.2pp below the 81% UK average (rank #233 of 361). Gigabit-capable coverage is 76.7% and superfast (≥30 Mbit/s) is 97.7%. Source: Ofcom Connected Nations Spring 2026.
What share of DORSET premises still lack decent fixed/FWA broadband?
0.2% of premises cannot receive decent broadband from a fixed line or fixed-wireless network on Ofcom's Spring 2026 measure. Ultrafast (≥300 Mbit/s) coverage is 76.7%.
What 75.8% full-fibre means for DORSET
DORSET is 5.2pp behind the 81% UK average, worth checking your own address before assuming the gap applies to you.
- Check your own address, an authority average can hide big street-by-street differences in coverage. Check your postcode
- See how DORSET ranks against every other UK local authority, not just the national average. Full UK rankings
- Learn what to do if full-fibre is not available at your address yet. How Ofcom Connected Nations works
Coverage figures are Ofcom Connected Nations availability data, not a guarantee of service at any single address; always check before switching.
Source: Ofcom, Connected Nations Spring 2026, UK Fixed Broadband Coverage (January 2026 snapshot, published May 2026 (r1)). Retrieved and formatted by PlainBroadband. Disclaimer: Coverage figures show availability, not guaranteed service quality or actual take-up. Published under the Open Government Licence v3.0.