Local authority · Scotland
HIGHLAND Broadband Coverage
Full-fibre reach, coverage gaps and how HIGHLAND compares across 361 UK local authorities, from Ofcom Connected Nations data.
- 63.3%
- Full-fibre coverage
- #327
- of 361 UK authorities
- −17.7pp
- vs 81% UK average
- 137,076
- premises covered
The verdict
HIGHLAND ranks #327 of 361 local authorities for full-fibre (63.3%) and #7 for the fixed/FWA availability gap (1.5%) - those two corpus maps diverge. It is mid-table for full-fibre, with room to close the gap with 63.3% full-fibre coverage, 17.7pp below the 81% UK average (bottom 9.7%).
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-HIGHLAND · HIGHLAND 137,076 premises · Scotland
BOOK-LARGE · RANK-LOWER · FF-LOW-MID
- BOOK-LARGE 137,076
- RANK-LOWER #327
- FF-LOW-MID 63.3%
- GAP-SMALL 1.5%
- DELTA-LAG -17.7pp
- IN-NA-MID #23 in Scotland
- PHOTO-FINISH ≈ DERBYSHIRE DALES
- MIX-FTTP-LED FTTP-led
Nearest full-fibre peer: DERBYSHIRE DALES (+ 0 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%
- HIGHLAND 63.3%
- DERBYSHIRE DALES 63.3%
- ELMBRIDGE 63.1%
- EAST HAMPSHIRE 62.7%
- MIDDLESBROUGH 62.6%
Coverage by Technology - HIGHLAND
Where HIGHLAND Sits Nationally
HIGHLAND vs every UK local authority
Full-fibre coverage distribution across all 361 UK local authorities. HIGHLAND's 63.3% places it in the highlighted band.
63.3% Bottom 9.7% ranked #327 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) | 63.3% |
| Gigabit-Capable | 63.3% |
| Ultrafast Broadband (≥300 Mbit/s) | 63.3% |
| Ultrafast (≥100 Mbit/s) | 63.3% |
| Superfast (≥30 Mbit/s) | 85.9% |
| NGA (any next-generation access) | 93.2% |
| Fixed Wireless Access (FWA) | 5.7% |
| No decent fixed/FWA broadband | 1.5% |
| Full-Fibre Take-Up (all premises) | 40% |
| Full-Fibre Take-Up (covered premises) | 47% |
| Total Premises | 137,076 |
| National Rank (Full-Fibre) | #327 / 361 |
Related
Source: Open Government Licence v3.0.
Nationwide local authorities with similar full-fibre or gigabit coverage
Two Ofcom peer sets for HIGHLAND, both outside Scotland so the neighborhoods are not the same-nation Nearby block above.
Similar full-fibre
Nearest other-nation local authorities by full-fibre coverage (63.3% here; floor ≥10,000 premises).
Similar gigabit
Nearest other-nation local authorities by gigabit-capable coverage (63.3% here).
Frequently Asked Questions
Why is full-fibre coverage lower in HIGHLAND?
Ofcom records 63.3% full-fibre coverage across 137,076 premises (rank #327 of 361). Gigabit-capable coverage is 63.3%; 1.5% of premises lack decent fixed/FWA broadband on the Spring 2026 measure. Figures are availability, not take-up or service quality.
Which Ofcom speeds are already present in HIGHLAND?
Superfast (≥30 Mbit/s) reaches 85.9% of premises, ultrafast (≥300 Mbit/s) 63.3%, and NGA any-next-gen 93.2%. Full-fibre (FTTP) is 63.3%. Source: Ofcom Connected Nations Spring 2026 (January 2026 snapshot, published May 2026 (r1)).
What 63.3% full-fibre means for HIGHLAND
HIGHLAND is 17.7pp 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 HIGHLAND 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.