UK full fibre network reaches 2.5m premises

New figures from Ofcom have revealed that the number of homes and businesses in the UK able to access gigabit speeds through full fibre connectivity has reached 2.5 million. The telecoms regulator's new interim Connected Nations update noted the number of premises able to take advantage of this technology has increased by 1.1 million in the last year, with 400,000 properties connected since the last official report in the spring. This equates to eight per cent of homes and businesses in the UK being able to access the technology, up from seven per cent in the last report. Ofcom noted: "There is now growing competition in the full fibre market with a range of larger and smaller full fibre providers rolling out networks in various parts of the country. The increase in availability shows these commercial roll-outs are now building at the fastest ever rate for full fibre in the UK." The report also noted that the number of premises still unable to access decent broadband continues to fall. Currently, this figure stands at around 578,000 homes and businesses that have download speeds of less than 10Mbps and upload speeds of below 1Mbps. Ofcom added that people who do not have a decent, affordable service at their home or business will be able to request an improved connection from March 20th next year under the new Universal Service Obligation. Elsewhere, the report noted the number of properties able to access superfast speeds of at least 30Mbps remained stable at around 95 per cent. The regulator said: "Superfast broadband availability has increased significantly over the last few years but, as the original BDUK-funded intervention schemes end, increases in rural areas yet to get access to superfast are likely to continue to slow down." However, this trend is set to be reversed by the introduction of new public sector-funded interventions such as the Scottish government's R100 scheme, which aims to bring superfast broadband to 100 per cent of premises in the country, including the most rural and hard-to-reach locations.

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