The UK fixed/FWA availability gap explained
Ofcom publishes a premises-level column for the share of addresses that cannot access a download speed of at least 10 Mbit/s and an upload of at least 1 Mbit/s via either fixed-line or fixed wireless infrastructure. PlainBroadband labels this the fixed/FWA availability gap. It is an observed coverage measure, not the same as a Universal Service Obligation eligibility decision for an individual home.
In numbers
Across 361 UK local authorities, 0.1% of premises cannot access decent fixed or fixed wireless broadband according to Ofcom Connected Nations Spring 2026, roughly 38,033 premises on a weighted count of 32,493,694 addresses in the extract.
What the gap measure counts
The without_decent_fixed_fwa_pct field in Connected Nations records the percentage of premises in a
local authority where neither a qualifying fixed-line product nor fixed wireless access can deliver the decent
broadband threshold (10 Mbit/s down, 1 Mbit/s up). Ofcom counts availability on the network, not
subscriptions or measured line speeds at a household.
Fixed wireless access is included because some rural clusters receive broadband only via a fixed antenna link. Where FWA covers a premises at the required speeds, that address is not counted in the gap column even if full-fibre has not yet reached the area. See our FWA guide for how wireless availability is reported.
Not the same as USO eligibility
The gap percentage describes aggregate coverage in a geography. The Broadband Universal Service Obligation is a legal right for an individual premises that cannot receive 10/1 Mbit/s: BT (or KCOM in Hull) must deliver a qualifying connection when requested, subject to a cost threshold. An area can show a low gap percentage while individual properties still qualify for a USO request, and a high gap percentage does not automatically mean every household in that authority can invoke the USO tomorrow.
PlainBroadband keeps the two concepts separate on every profile. For the statutory process, read our USO guide; for deeper analysis of the worst authorities, see the fixed/FWA availability gap research note.
How the gap relates to full-fibre rollout
National full-fibre availability in the same extract stands at 81.0% while gigabit-capable coverage reaches 87.8%. The gap column can fall even when full-fibre percentages look modest, because superfast copper, cable upgrades, or FWA may already clear the 10/1 threshold for many premises. Conversely, an authority with strong full-fibre can still record a non-zero gap where scattered premises sit outside every reported network.
Rural authorities often dominate the gap rankings, but the measure is not a pure urban/rural proxy: some sparse Highland communities and some inner-city pockets both appear in the tail. Our rural coverage gap guide explains why deployment economics differ by geography.
Gap by nation
Premises-weighted gap percentages vary between England, Scotland, Wales, and Northern Ireland. The chart below ranks the four nations on the without-decent fixed/FWA column from the Spring 2026 extract.
Premises-weighted without_decent_fixed_fwa_pct by nation.
England
0.1% without decent fixed/FWA
Full-fibre 81.3% · Gigabit 88.4%
Scotland
0.3% without decent fixed/FWA
Full-fibre 74.0% · Gigabit 82.1%
Wales
0.3% without decent fixed/FWA
Full-fibre 80.8% · Gigabit 83.1%
Northern Ireland
0.2% without decent fixed/FWA
Full-fibre 94.0% · Gigabit 94.9%
Local authorities with the largest gap
The table lists the twelve authorities with the highest without-decent fixed/FWA percentages among those with at least 10,000 premises in the extract. Use each authority profile for constituency breakdowns and corpus rank context.
| Local authority | Gap % | Full-fibre % | FWA % | Premises |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| NA H-EILEANAN SIAR | 2.8% | 12.0% | 0.0% | 17,811 |
| ARGYLL AND BUTE | 2.1% | 23.9% | 0.0% | 58,013 |
| ORKNEY ISLANDS | 2.0% | 30.0% | 0.0% | 13,362 |
| POWYS | 2.0% | 62.1% | 10.8% | 71,500 |
| SHETLAND ISLANDS | 1.7% | 20.0% | 0.0% | 13,367 |
| CEREDIGION | 1.6% | 58.7% | 3.4% | 39,489 |
| HIGHLAND | 1.5% | 63.3% | 5.7% | 137,076 |
| ABERDEENSHIRE | 1.3% | 48.5% | 0.0% | 131,027 |
| TORRIDGE | 1.3% | 60.0% | 59.4% | 36,314 |
| WEST DEVON | 1.3% | 64.2% | 52.4% | 28,563 |
| CARMARTHENSHIRE | 1.1% | 73.0% | 12.0% | 95,119 |
| ANGUS | 1.0% | 58.9% | 0.0% | 62,607 |
Where the gap is near zero
At the other end of the distribution, 5 authorities in this extract record gap percentages below 1%. ABERDEEN CITY, ADUR, ANTRIM AND NEWTOWNABBEY are among the lowest, reflecting dense urban or fully upgraded networks. Near-zero gap does not guarantee every premises can order gigabit speeds; it means the decent 10/1 threshold is reported as available almost everywhere.
How to use this on PlainBroadband
Every authority and constituency page shows the without-decent fixed/FWA column alongside full-fibre, gigabit, superfast, and take-up fields. Rankings sort authorities by this metric on demand. The coverage comparison tool lets you contrast two local authorities side by side.
Frequently asked questions
Does a high gap percentage mean no broadband at all?
No. The column counts premises below the 10/1 decent threshold on fixed or fixed wireless networks. Some of those premises may still receive slower ADSL or mobile services that Ofcom does not include in this particular availability field.
Will full-fibre rollout automatically close the gap?
Usually, but not instantly. Full-fibre typically exceeds the decent threshold, so as FTTP passes more premises the gap column should fall. FWA and cable upgrades can also reduce the gap without full-fibre reaching 100%.
How do I check my address?
Use Ofcom’s coverage checker or a provider’s address-level tool for an individual availability decision. PlainBroadband publishes local-authority and constituency aggregates only.
What to do with this
17,811 premises sit in Na H-Eileanan Siar, the single largest fixed/FWA gap in this extract, check your own authority before assuming the national average applies to you.
- See how Na H-Eileanan Siar's 2.8% gap compares to its neighbours. Na H-Eileanan Siar profile
- Understand the statutory USO right for premises below the decent threshold. Universal Service Obligation guide
- Compare two local authorities side by side on every coverage metric. Coverage comparison tool
Gap percentages are premises availability from the Ofcom Connected Nations Spring 2026 extract, not a guarantee any individual address is already passed.
Gap percentages on this guide query the without_decent_fixed_fwa_pct column from the same Connected Nations extract as authority and nation profiles. Editorial explanations of USO and FWA are summaries of Ofcom public materials. Nation and authority tables use live SQL against the Connected Nations local-authority extract. See our editorial standards & corrections policy, the methodology behind these numbers, or report a data error. Data current as of January 2026.