Nations reports 2024

Broadband

• Over two-thirds of households in England now have access to full-fibre networks. 17.3 million residential premises (69%) have access to full fibre as of July 2024, an increase of 13 percentage points from September 2023. Gigabit-capable coverage now extends to 84% or 21.1 million premises in England.
• Take-up of services on fixed networks has increased across England. Where full fibre is available, 33% of premises have taken up services on these networks which represents an increase of 6 percentage points from last year. As of July 2024, there are 6 million fullfibre connections.
• Satellite broadband connections in England have doubled. The number of customer connections in England has increased from around 34,000 to 70,000 from last year.
• The number of premises -residential and commercial -in England without access to decent broadband from a fixed line is 275,000. Taking account of access to Fixed Wireless Access (FWA) services, and plans to expand coverage with public funding over the next year, we estimate that around 30,000 premises are potentially eligible for the broadband service under the universal service obligation (USO).

Mobile

• 5G coverage is steadily increasing across England. 92-96% of premises (across a range covering Very High and High Confidence levels) can now receive 5G outdoor coverage from at least one MNO.2 England remains the UK nation with the highest 5G coverage from at least one MNO.
• 4G coverage continues to be extensive across England. Coverage for data services from at least one MNO now reaches 99% of England’s landmass. Increases in 4G coverage in England are taking place against the background of efforts to improve coverage across rural areas of the UK, as part of the Shared Rural Network (SRN) Programme.

Connected Nations 2024: England

Broadband

• 62% of residential properties have access to full-fibre networks in Scotland. This is an increase of nine percentage points (265,000 premises) from September 2023 to July 2024.
• Over three-quarters of Scottish households have gigabit-capable coverage. The increase of five percentage points (166,000) means that 77% of premises can access gigabit-capable services.
• Scotland’s rural areas recorded the largest percentage point increase in superfast coverage of any geographic area in the UK. The additional 26,000 Scottish rural premises that now have superfast broadband marked an increase of four percentage points.
• Take up of services on full-fibre networks has increased significantly, by seven percentage points from 28% in May 2023 to 35% in July 2024.
• Take-up of satellite broadband has nearly doubled in Scotland. Starlink connections in Scotland have increased from 6,000 to 11,000. The technology offers the potential to bring connectivity to areas where building fixed or mobile connections is traditionally challenging.
• The number of premises not able to access decent broadband continues to decrease. Only 0.5% (16,000) premises in Scotland cannot access decent broadband from fixed-lines or fixed wireless access (FWA).

Mobile

• The availability of 5G services continues to grow steadily. In Scotland, 5G coverage outside of premises from at least one Mobile Network Operator (MNO) is now at 91% (up from 88% in 2023) for the High Confidence measure.
• Programmes to enhance mobile connectivity in rural Scotland are making significant progress. At least one MNO now covers 89% (up five percentage points) of landmass in Scotland, and all four MNOs cover 65% of Scotland (up 17 percentage points). Scotland continues to have the lowest 4G coverage across the nations, but it has recorded the highest growth in this measure.
• 4G availability outside Scottish premises has continued to increase. This change has been driven by increased 4G coverage in rural areas, with the range of coverage across the four MNOs improving from 90-98% last year, to 96-98% this year.
• Scotland now has the highest 4G coverage from all four MNOs for indoor premises in the UK. 89% of Scottish indoor premises now have 4G coverage from all four MNOs.

Connected Nations 2024: Scotland

Broadband

• Access to full-fibre networks has reached 1 million homes in Wales or 68% of residential premises, up 13 percentage points from last year (55%). Gigabit-capable broadband has increased 10 percentage points from last year to 74%. This is the biggest increase across all UK nations.
• Take-up of services on full-fibre networks has risen over the last year. There was an increase of 8 percentage points in take-up as a proportion of all premises where full fibre is available, from 31% reported last year to 39% this year. This equates to an increase of 170,000 full-fibre connections (residential and business) in Wales.
• The number of premises that still cannot access decent broadband from fixed-line or fixed wireless networks has remained static at around 8,000 premises in Wales. We estimate that around 1,000 of these premises will be connected via publicly funded schemes by December 2025, leaving around 7,000 premises without decent broadband coverage and potentially eligible for the Universal Service Obligation (USO).
• Availability of full fibre varies greatly across constituencies in Wales. The Westminster constituencies with the highest levels of full fibre availability include Alyn & Deeside (92%), Bridgend (91%) and Clwyd North (88%); whilst the constituencies with the lowest level of full fibre availability are Rhondda & Ogmore (36%), Brecon, Radnor & Cwm Tawe (41%), Caerfyrddin (45%), Ynys Môn (45%) and Ceredigion Preseli (48%).
• Some customers are taking up alternate broadband options delivered over wireless and satellite networks. In Wales, 93% of customers can access a Fixed Wireless Access (FWA) service from a Mobile Network Operator (MNO).
• Wireless Internet Service Provider (WISP). This is a high proportion compared to the UK as a whole, where only 7% of premises on average have FWA coverage from WISPs.

Mobile

• 5G is reaching a growing number of consumers, with Wales seeing a steady increase in coverage. Coverage from at least one MNO now reaches 86% (High Confidence) and 79% (Very High Confidence) in areas outside of premises.
• 4G geographic coverage in Wales has increased significantly during the past year as the individual MNOs continue to incrementally extend their networks. Their coverage now ranges from 83-89% (up from 73-85% in 2023) partly reflecting the work they are undertaking to deliver their Shared Rural Network obligations.
• Rural parts of Wales have seen a 13 percentage points increase in 4G geographic coverage from all four MNOs to 72%, the second highest across the nations, after Scotland. Urban areas of Wales remain well served by 4G networks at 94% coverage.
• Dwyfor Meirionnydd (63%), Bangor Aberconwy (66%), Brecon, Radnor & Cwmtawe (66%), Ceredigion Preseli (69%) and Montgomeryshire & Glyndwr (70%) are among the new Westminster constituencies in Wales with the lowest availability of 4G geographic coverage from all operators. Constituencies with the highest levels of 4G geographic coverage include
  Cardiff East (99%+), Swansea West (99%+), Newport East (99%), Cardiff North (98%) and Cardiff West (98%). There is good 4G geographic coverage from at least one MNO across all Westminster constituencies in Wales.

Connected Nations 2024: Wales

Cysylltu’r Gwledydd 2024

Broadband

• Around 760,000 homes in Northern Ireland can now access full-fibre broadband. Among the four UK nations, Northern Ireland (93%) has the highest availability of full-fibre networks. Northern Ireland’s full fibre position reflects significant early commercial rollout and publicly funded schemes designed to improve broadband in rural areas.
• Superfast broadband from fixed-lines is available to 98% of residential premises in Northern Ireland, unchanged from 2023. In urban areas, this figure rises to 99%+.
• Where full fibre is available, 53% of premises are connected, compared to 39% last year. Around 430,000 residential premises are now connected to services on full-fibre networks.
• There has been a reduction in the number of premises unable to access decent broadband. Around 2,000 premises are unable to access connections with over 10 Mbit/s download speeds, compared to 3,000 last year.
• Average monthly broadband data use in Northern Ireland is now 510 GB per month. This rises to 589 GB per month over full-fibre connections.

Mobile

• There has been a further increase in 5G availability. Mobile network operators (MNOs) continue to increase the footprint of these services, and outside premises coverage from at least one MNO now stands at 92% at the High Confidence level and 86% at Very High Confidence, up from 80% and 70% respectively in 2023.
• 4G coverage continues to provide the backbone of mobile experience for consumers. Individual MNOs provide good 4G coverage across Northern Ireland, with geographic mobile coverage ranging from 89-95%, depending on the operator. Outside premises coverage from all four MNOs is available across 97% of Northern Ireland, unchanged from last year.
• Voice calls are available across 98-99%+ of Northern Ireland, depending on the operator. However, coverage is slightly lower in rural areas (94-99%+) than in urban (99%+).

Connected Nations 2024: Northern Ireland