South Ribble Broadband Coverage
Data updated June 2026
Every figure on PlainBroadband is rendered directly from Ofcom Connected Nations data, no number is typed in by an editor. 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.
Ranked #225 of 361 UK local authorities by full-fibre coverage. 72.7% is below the UK national average of 77.5%.
The verdict
South Ribble is mid-table for full-fibre, with room to close the gap - ranked #225 of 361 UK local authorities (bottom 38%) with 72.7% full-fibre coverage, 4.8pp below the 77.5% UK average.
About Broadband in South Ribble
South Ribble is a local authority district in England with 55,879 premises in the Ofcom Connected Nations 2025 dataset. Full-fibre (FTTP) broadband is available to 72.7% of premises, and gigabit-capable connectivity reaches 82.5%. Superfast broadband (≥30 Mbit/s) is accessible to 98.1% of premises. South Ribble ranks 225th nationally out of 361 local authorities by full-fibre coverage.
The gigabit and full-fibre figures reflect the proportion of addresses that can order an FTTP connection from at least one provider, availability does not imply that every household has taken up a service. Full-fibre take-up across all premises stands at 31%, and among premises where coverage is available the figure is 42%. Ofcom defines gigabit-capable as the ability to receive download speeds of at least 1,000 Mbit/s, which in practice means a full-fibre or qualifying cable network must pass the property.
All measured premises meet the Universal Service Obligation threshold of 10 Mbit/s down / 1 Mbit/s up. Fixed wireless access (FWA) is available to 16.5% of premises, providing an alternative to fixed-line broadband for homes and businesses that cannot easily receive FTTP. Figures are drawn from operator network-coverage data submitted to Ofcom and verified through the Connected Nations 2025 methodology. See our methodology page for full details on how premises counts and coverage percentages are calculated.
Coverage by Technology - South Ribble
Where South Ribble Sits Nationally
South Ribble vs every UK local authority
Full-fibre coverage distribution across all 361 UK local authorities. South Ribble's 72.7% places it in the highlighted band.
72.7% Bottom 38% ranked #225 of 361 UK authorities
every UK local authority, bucketed by full-fibre coverage
Source: Ofcom Connected Nations 2025 (July 2025, r01)
Full Coverage Data
| Metric | Coverage | Definition |
|---|---|---|
| Full-Fibre (FTTP) | 72.7% | Fibre to the Premises, optical fibre all the way to the property |
| Gigabit-Capable | 82.5% | ≥1,000 Mbit/s download speed available |
| Ultrafast Broadband (≥300 Mbit/s) | 82.8% | UFBB - ≥300 Mbit/s download speed available |
| Ultrafast (≥100 Mbit/s) | 83.1% | ≥100 Mbit/s download speed available |
| Superfast (≥30 Mbit/s) | 98.1% | SFBB - ≥30 Mbit/s download speed available |
| NGA (any next-generation access) | 99.5% | Any NGA network available |
| Fixed Wireless Access (FWA) | 16.5% | Wireless-only fixed broadband (no physical cable) |
| Below USO Threshold | 0% | Below 10 Mbit/s down / 1 Mbit/s up USO minimum |
| Full-Fibre Take-Up (all premises) | 31% | % of all premises actively using a full-fibre connection |
| Full-Fibre Take-Up (covered premises) | 42% | % of premises where FTTP is available that have taken it up |
| Total Premises | 55,879 | All premises in Ofcom's matched dataset |
| National Rank (Full-Fibre) | #225 / 361 | Ranking among all UK local authorities by full-fibre coverage |
Coverage Analysis
South Ribble's full-fibre coverage of 72.7% places it at rank 225 nationally. The gap between full-fibre availability (72.7%) and gigabit availability (82.5%) reflects whether any qualifying cable networks supplement the FTTP rollout in this district. Where the two figures are close, full-fibre is effectively the sole gigabit delivery mechanism.
Superfast coverage at 98.1% gives a sense of the floor for most residents, the majority of premises in South Ribble can receive at least 30 Mbit/s. The USO gap of 0% represents premises that cannot yet access the government-mandated minimum of 10 Mbit/s download and 1 Mbit/s upload. In rural local authorities this figure can reach double digits; in dense urban areas it typically approaches zero.
Take-up data provides a demand-side view. With 31% of all premises actively using full-fibre, South Ribble gives a clear picture of how quickly residents are switching to future-proof connections as they become available.
Related
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the full-fibre broadband coverage in South Ribble?
According to Ofcom Connected Nations 2025 (July 2025, r01), 72.7% of premises in South Ribble have access to full-fibre (FTTP) broadband. Full-fibre connects properties using optical fibre all the way from the exchange, enabling gigabit-speed connections. The UK national average is approximately 77.5%.
How does South Ribble compare nationally for broadband coverage?
South Ribble ranks 225th out of 361 UK local authorities by full-fibre coverage (72.7%). Gigabit-capable coverage stands at 82.5% and superfast (≥30 Mbit/s) coverage at 98.1%. Figures are from Ofcom Connected Nations 2025.
Does South Ribble meet the broadband Universal Service Obligation?
The Broadband Universal Service Obligation (USO) guarantees access to at least 10 Mbit/s download and 1 Mbit/s upload. Ofcom's Connected Nations 2025 data shows all measured premises in South Ribble meet this threshold.
Source: Ofcom, Connected Nations 2025, UK Fixed Broadband Coverage (July 2025, r01). Retrieved and formatted by PlainBroadband Editorial. Disclaimer: Coverage figures show availability, not guaranteed service quality or actual take-up. Published under the Open Government Licence v3.0.