Connected Nations Report 2020: Gigabit broadband reaches one in four homes
Ofcom has published its 2020 Connected Nations Report, revealing positive figures for the rollout of gigabit-capable broadband across the UK, and that despite the significant increase in demand through lockdown, the UK's mobile and broadband networks have coped well with demand.Rollout of full-fibre increases to 18%
Ofcom's research shows that full-fibre broadband is now available to just over 5m homes (18%) – a rise of 80% in a year, the largest increase to date. Availability in the UK is highest in Northern Ireland (56%), followed by Wales (19%). One of the main advantages of full fibre is its greater reliability, and as Ofcom notes, this is important, as the UK households used an average of 429 gigabytes (GB) of data each month in 2020 – up 36% from last year (315GB).
Positive news too for the rollout of gigabit-capable broadband, as Ofcom reveals that nearly eight million UK homes (27%) can get gigabit broadband, which includes full fibre and Virgin Media’s fastest cable package (known as DOCSIS 3.1).
Figures for superfast broadband are broadly similar to 2019 statistics, with the vast majority (96%) of UK homes can now access superfast broadband: download speeds of at least 30 Mbit/s. However, within rural areas, this falls to 81%. Not all of the UK benefits from these speeds, with a small number (0.6%) of properties across the UK—around 190,000— cannot get ‘decent’ broadband: download speeds of 10 Mbit/s and upload speeds of 1 Mbit/s.
Mobile coverage - 5G gains ground
All of the UK’s mobile network operators continued to roll out new 5G coverage this year, with Ofcom reporting around 3,000 5G transmitters are now in locations across all four nations – ten times as many as last year. The 4G picture is positive too: 4G services are available outdoors from all four networks for 97.5% of UK properties. But this drops to 87% outside rural properties.
Ofcom notes the significance of the Shared Rural Network programme, which aims to improve 4G coverage and help tackle mobile not spots: currently 8.6% of the UK’s landmass. Ofcom outlines that it will monitor and report on the progress of the joint programme in future Connected Nations reports.
UK networks stand firm
Ofcom notes in its report that it has never been more important for people across the UK to be connected. As the UK entered the first lockdown in March 2020, millions of people relied on fast, reliable broadband and good mobile connections to work, learn, access public services, keep entertained and connect with loved ones. While the UK's networks experienced significantly higher levels of demand, particularly in the daytime, networks and providers had the capacity to meet this demand, and coped well with the increases.
Mobile networks also successfully coped with the increased demands and changes in network traffic patterns during the lockdown period. There was an increase in call volumes and as restrictions continued, mobile hotspots shifted away from the city
centres to the suburbs and residential areas.
Ofcom's data shows the number of network resilience and security problems – including outages – reported was broadly in-line with recent years.
You can read the full report here, as well as explore the Interactive Data. Ofcom has also released specific Nations reports, alongside the UK-Wide Connected Nations.
Sophie Greaves
Sophie Greaves
Sophie Greaves is Associate Director for Digital Infrastructure at techUK, overseeing the Communications Infrastructure and Services Programme at techUK, and the UK Spectrum Policy Forum.
Sophie was promoted to Head having been Programme Manager for Communications Infrastructure and Services, leading techUK's telecoms activities, engagement and policy development. Previously, Sophie was Programme Assistant across a variety of areas including the Broadband Stakeholder Group, Central Government, Financial Services and Communications Infrastructure programmes.
Prior to joining techUK, Sophie completed a masters in Film Studies at University College London; her dissertation examined US telecoms policy relating to net neutrality and content distribution.
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- [email protected]
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- 0207 331 2038
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- https://www.linkedin.com/in/sophiegreaves/
Phil Reid
Phil Reid
Phil is acting Head of Telecoms and Spectrum policy at techUK, where he leads the Communications, Infrastructure and Services Programme. This focuses on promoting the benefits and innovations of connectivity and tackles the barriers of digital infrsatructre rollout.
Phil's background lies in public affairs and policy, supporting numerous organisations to navigate their policy landscape, build their political profile and engage on key issues with impact. His previous roles were predominantly in consultancy but he has also had extensive experience in establishing and manging both trade bodies and campaign groupings; leading their secretariat functions as well as their public affairs and communications activities.
Telecoms has been an ever-constant sector focus during his career, covering an array of issues such as IP-migration, broadband rollout, net neutrality, telecoms fraud, network resilience and security. He has a strong understanding of the sector ecosytem, its major policy issues and has had plenty of interaction with its key stakeholders.
Outside of work, if he's not enjoying family time with his wife and two daughters, he'll be either playing or watching some form of sport.
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- [email protected]
Tales Gaspar
Tales Gaspar
Tales has a background in law and economics, with previous experience in the regulation of new technologies and infrastructure.
In the UK and Europe, he offered consultancy on intellectual property rights of cellular and IoT technologies and on the regulatory procedures at the ITU as a Global Fellow at the European Space Policy Institute (ESPI).
Tales has an LL.M in Law and Business by the Getulio Vargas Foundation (FGV) and an MSc in Regulation at the London School of Economics, with a specialization in Government and Law.
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- [email protected]
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- +44 (0) 0207 331 2000
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- www.techUK.org
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- www.linkedin.com/in/talesngaspar
Josh Turpin
Josh Turpin
Josh joined techUK as a Programme Manager for Telecoms and Net Zero in August 2024.
In this role, working jointly across the techUK Telecoms and Climate Programmes, Josh is responsible for leading on telecoms infrastructure deployment and uptake and supporting innovation opportunities, as well as looking at how the tech sector can be further utilised in the UK’s decarbonisation efforts.
Prior to joining techUK, Josh’s background was in public affairs and communications, working for organisations across a diverse portfolio of sectors including defence, telecoms and infrastructure; aiding clients through stakeholder engagement, crisis communications, media outreach as well as secretariat duties.
Outside of work, Josh has a keen interest in music, painting and sailing.
- Email:
- [email protected]
- Phone:
- 020 7331 2038
- LinkedIn:
- https://www.linkedin.com/in/josh-turpin/