- Rapid rollout sees record reach of full-fibre broadband to a million Welsh homes.
- Take-up of services on full-fibre networks has risen over the last year.
- 4G mobile coverage has increased considerably.
A record one million homes in Wales can now access full-fibre broadband, according to Ofcom’s latest annual report on the nation’s broadband and mobile networks.
Ofcom’s Connected Nations Wales report finds that 68% of Welsh homes now have access to full-fibre broadband, up from 55% (730,000 homes) in September 2023 and in line with the UK average of 69%. Homes in urban areas of Wales are more likely to have access to full-fibre networks (74%) but there has been a notable increase of seven percentage points in full-fibre availability in rural Wales, reaching nearly half of homes in Wales (48%).
By using fibre optic cables all the way to the home instead of copper lines, full-fibre broadband is faster and more reliable. Full fibre networks, as well as cable, can potentially deliver speeds of one gigabit per second (Gbit/s) or higher, which means a better experience when doing activities like streaming, gaming and making video calls.
Taking full-fibre and cable networks together, over a million homes in Wales (74%) now have access to a gigabit-capable broadband connection.
Full-fibre take-up continues to increase
The number of households signed up to full fibre broadband services, where available, has risen from 31% to 39% between May 2023 and July 2024.
Take up of full-fibre is notably higher in rural areas than in urban areas, with 55% of homes in rural Wales with full-fibre access signed up, compared with just over a third (36%) in towns and cities.
The fact that full-fibre broadband is now available in one million homes in Wales is very good news. This significant milestone has been reached through a combination of commercial investment and targeted public intervention and we look forward to seeing further progress to connect those homes still without a decent broadband connection.
- Elinor Williams, Ofcom’s Principal, Regulatory Affairs in Wales
The report provides progress updates on the availability of broadband and mobile services across Wales including the roll-out of full fibre, fixed wireless access and 5G mobile networks. The report also contains other key findings for Wales, including:
Vast improvement in both full-fibre and superfast broadband availability across the new Welsh Westminster constituencies, but significant variations remain.
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 Brecon, Radnor & Cwm Tawe (41%), Caerfyrddin (45%), Ceredigion Preseli (48%), Rhondda & Ogmore (36%) and Ynys Môn (45%).
Superfast broadband coverage in 29 of the 32 parliamentary constituencies is now at least 90% with several of them with 99% coverage or more. The lowest levels of superfast coverage are in the rural constituencies of Caerfyrddin (85%), Ceredigion Preseli (86%) and Brecon, Radnor and Cwm Tawe (88%).
Satellite broadband take-up increases
Take-up of satellite broadband is increasing and may offer an alternative in poorly served areas in Wales. In 2024, Starlink’s satellite broadband reached 5,000 connections in Wales – the majority in rural areas – up from 3,000 last year.
4G landmass coverage has increased considerably
4G landmass coverage where it is available from all four operators has increased from 62% to 75%, largely driven by the Shared Rural Network programme. Coverage in the most rural parts of Wales has seen the biggest increase of 13-percentage points to 72% from 59% in September 2023.
Urban areas of Wales remain well served by 4G networks at 94% coverage.
Again, there are differences in 4G landmass coverage across the new Westminster constituencies. With Ynys Môn being the only Welsh constituency to remain unaffected by the boundary changes, it is possible to provide a comparison in coverage from last year – increasing from 75% to 90% in 2024.
Constituencies with the highest levels of coverage from all four operators include Cardiff East (99%+), Swansea West (99%+) and Newport East (99%) with the lowest coverage in the more rural constituencies of Dwyfor Meirionnydd (63%), Bangor Aberconwy (66%), Brecon, Radnor and Cwm Tawe (66%) and Ceredigion Preseli (69%).
The availability of mobile 5G is gradually expanding in Wales but varies considerably by operator.
Mobile network operators’ 5G coverage outside premises ranges between 16% and 80% each. 5G coverage outside premises where it is available from at least one operator increased to 86% - up from 83% last year. We continue, however, to see significant differences across the UK, with 5G deployed by at least one operator in 91% of sites in urban areas, compared to 68% of sites in rural areas.
Legacy 3G networks are being phased out, with two mobile network operators having already completed the process, and 2G expected to be shut down by 2033.
Improving our mobile coverage reporting
We recognise that current coverage reporting based on existing signal strength predictions from MNO’s has limitations and does not necessarily reflect customers lived experience.
Improving our coverage and performance reporting and exploring new ways to capture this data is a top priority for Ofcom in the coming year. This work will include overhauling our mobile web-checker tool.
Notes to editors:
- Alongside the Wales report, we have published separate reports on broadband and mobile availability for the UK as a whole and each of its other nations. Our interactive dashboard allows people to easily access the latest data for different areas of Wales and the UK and in relation to specific services.
- We estimate that around 8,000 premises in Wales still cannot access decent broadband from fixed-line or fixed wireless networks 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).
- If you can’t get a download speed of at least 10 Mbit/s and an upload speed of at least 1 Mbit/s (this is defined as a 'decent connection'), you have a legal right to request an upgraded connection. You can make this request to BT, or to KCOM if you live in the Hull area. You don't need to be an existing customer to apply.