More than 97% of UK homes could have access to gigabit-capable broadband by 2027, if providers deploy their networks as planned, according to new data published by Ofcom in it’s latest broadband forecast.

The latest Planned Network Deployments report also shows that 29 million properties could have full fibre availability by 2027, covering 96% of all properties in the country.

If all currently planned network deployments go ahead, the number of properties covered by full fibre will increase from 18.7 million (as of January 2024) to around 29 million by May 2027. 

Ofcom’s report indicates that by May 2027, 99% of urban areas will have gigabit broadband coverage, up from 85% today, but rural areas stand to gain the most, with planned network expansions increasing coverage to 88%, compared to just 49% today.

In Scotland, 2.2 million urban properties will be covered by 2027 (99%), though only 0.4 million rural properties will have access (72%).

Almost all local authority areas in the UK have more than three network operators with plans for expansion, with several regions having more than ten operators planning to build, leading Ofcom to estimate that 96% of local authorities will see gigabit-capable coverage reaching more than 60% of premises within a few years.

Overbuild means that competition is set to become fierce, with Ofcom estimating that up to 81% of all UK properties will be able to choose gigabit-capable services between two or more providers by 2027, although in Scotland this falls to 73%.

The report reveals that plans for full fibre networks are lower compared with plans up to May 2026 made in 2023, with operators revising future plans downwards by around 3% across the UK. However, plans which operators have confidence of achieving are 2% higher than last year.

More Fixed Wireless Access (FWA) networks are also planned, with around 4,300 further FWA masts being installed or upgraded across the UK, which, in addition to around 28,500 already existing, will see more areas offered high speed broadband access.

Recommended reading

• New Builds in Scotland Could Come with Gigabit-capable Broadband
• UK Altnets Broadband Overbuild Leaves Rural Areas in Jeopardy
• Digital Exclusion Growing in Scotland

Under Project Gigabit, £5 million of government funding has been allocated to help hard-to-reach communities access lightning-fast gigabit-capable broadband, with an £800 million investment recently announced to modernise broadband infrastructure in rural areas of England, Wales, and Scotland. 

Speaking on that announcement, secretary of state for science, innovation and technology, Peter Kyle, said at the time: “Over the past decade, the UK’s broadband rollout has clearly not happened fast enough and has overlooked too many areas, especially in Scotland and Wales.

“Robust digital infrastructure is essential for growth, productivity and competitiveness and this shortfall not only poses risks to our economic stability, but also entrenches existing inequalities across the country.”