Frequently Asked Questions

PlainBroadband uses data from Ofcom's Connected Nations 2025 report (July 2025, reference r01). This is the UK's authoritative annual survey of fixed-broadband availability, covering 361 local authorities and 650 Westminster constituencies. The data is published under the Open Government Licence v3.0.

Ofcom publishes its Connected Nations report annually, typically in summer. Our current data reflects the July 2025 edition. We update our database within a few weeks of each new Ofcom release.

Yes, PlainBroadband is completely free. All data comes from Ofcom's publicly available publications. We do not require registration, subscriptions, or payment of any kind.

The data comes directly from Ofcom with no modification. Ofcom collects network availability data from operators and models it at premises level — it is the most rigorous public source for UK broadband coverage. However, coverage figures reflect the state of networks at the time of Ofcom's survey and may not capture very recent build-outs. For address-level accuracy, check Ofcom's broadband checker or your specific provider.

Full-fibre (FTTP) means a fibre-optic cable runs all the way from the exchange to the premises. Gigabit-capable broadband is a broader category: it includes full-fibre plus some upgraded cable networks (such as Virgin Media's DOCSIS 3.1 infrastructure). All full-fibre connections are gigabit-capable, but not all gigabit-capable connections are full-fibre. The UK-wide full-fibre figure is approximately 77.5%, while gigabit-capable coverage is somewhat higher.

The Universal Service Obligation (USO) is a regulatory right introduced in 2020 giving UK residents the ability to request a subsidised broadband connection capable of at least 10 Mbit/s download and 1 Mbit/s upload. The 'USO gap' figure on PlainBroadband shows the percentage of premises in each area that cannot yet receive these speeds. Where the USO gap is above zero, residents may be eligible to request a BT or KCOM connection under USO rules.

Northern Ireland leads all four UK nations with 93.3% full-fibre coverage, compared to 77.9% in England, 76.2% in Wales, and 70.0% in Scotland. This reflects the success of Project Stratum, a publicly funded programme that began full-fibre build in Northern Ireland earlier than comparable programmes on the mainland. Openreach and other providers have since accelerated UK-wide builds, but Northern Ireland's head-start remains visible in the data.

Superfast broadband (SFBB) is Ofcom's term for any fixed broadband connection capable of delivering at least 30 Mbit/s download. It covers most fibre-to-the-cabinet (FTTC) and cable networks. Superfast was the UK government's previous connectivity benchmark before gigabit targets were introduced. Most urban and suburban areas in the UK now have superfast coverage above 95%.

No. PlainBroadband covers fixed-line broadband coverage only, based on Ofcom's Connected Nations fixed network survey. Mobile broadband (4G/5G) is covered separately by Ofcom in a different part of the Connected Nations report and is not included here.

Ofcom's figures are premises-weighted coverage estimates across an entire local authority. Your specific address, street, or postcode may differ from the area average. Coverage figures also reflect the state of networks when Ofcom collected its data; providers may have expanded their networks since publication. For an address-specific check, use Ofcom's own broadband availability checker.