Every year Ofcom publishes its Connected Nations reports, which track how far broadband and mobile networks reach across the UK. In spring it releases a shorter update with the latest figures. The spring 2026 update shows that full fibre is now available to most homes, yet fewer than half of the homes that can get it have made the move.
This guide explains what the numbers mean, why so many people have not switched yet, and how to find out what your own home can get.
The headline figures
Ofcom's Connected Nations spring update, published on 13 May 2026 and based on data to January 2026, reports that:
- full fibre is available to 24.9 million homes, which is 82% of UK homes;
- 12.4 million homes have taken up full fibre, which is 47% of those who can get it;
- gigabit capable broadband reaches 89% of homes, or 27.1 million.
In short, around four in five homes could order full fibre today, but more than half of those homes are still on an older connection.
Full fibre and gigabit capable are not the same thing
The two coverage figures measure different things. Full fibre, also called FTTP, means fibre optic cable runs all the way into your home. Gigabit capable is a wider group that includes any network able to deliver speeds of a gigabit, which also takes in some cable networks that use a different technology for the final part. That is why the gigabit figure is higher than the full fibre figure. Our guide to full fibre and FTTC explains how the main connection types differ.
What is forecast for 2029
Ofcom also collects building plans from network operators. Its report on planned network deployments says full fibre could reach 28.1 million homes, or 92%, by January 2029 if every plan goes ahead. Counting only the plans Ofcom has high confidence in, the figure is 88%.
Plans can change, so these numbers are a forecast rather than a promise. They do suggest that the large majority of homes should have the option of full fibre within the next few years, and that a smaller group, often in harder to reach places, may wait longer.
Why take up lags behind coverage
If full fibre is available to 82% of homes, why have fewer than half of them taken it? Ofcom's headline figures do not give a breakdown of reasons, but a few common obstacles are easy to recognise.
- Being in contract. Many households are partway through a minimum term and wait until it ends before changing.
- Not knowing it has arrived. Networks are built street by street, and nobody may have told you that your home has been connected.
- Confusing names. Plenty of older connections are sold as fibre broadband, so people may think they already have it.
- Worry about switching. Some people expect switching to be difficult or are concerned about installation.
- Current broadband feels good enough. If nothing seems broken, there is little reason to look.
Some of these worries are easier to deal with than they used to be. Since 12 September 2024, home customers can use One Touch Switch, which means you only need to contact your new provider. Our guide to One Touch Switch walks through the process, and our installation page explains what happens when an engineer visits.
The landline switch off
There is another reason to look at your options. The old copper telephone network is being retired, and Ofcom has set out a deadline of 31 January 2027 for Openreach lines. Homes that still rely on copper for broadband and calls will need to move to a digital service, so it can make sense to plan the change on your own terms rather than at the last minute.
What the figures mean for the North East
National averages hide a lot of local variation. Full fibre is built by several networks, each working to its own plan, so one street can be connected while the next is not. In Sunderland, for example, CityFibre announced a £62m investment in January 2021 to bring full fibre to almost every home and business in the city. That is a statement of intent rather than a finished job, and other networks build in the area too.
We are not aware of a reliable published coverage figure for Sunderland or for individual North East towns, and we would rather not guess. The honest answer is that the only way to know what your home can get is to check your exact address. Our areas pages cover the towns we serve, from Sunderland and Newcastle to Durham and Hartlepool, and our guide to full fibre in the North East covers the local picture in more detail.
How to check your address
- Use an address checker. Enter your postcode in our address checker and pick your exact address from the list. Neighbouring homes can have different results.
- Look at the connection type. Make sure the result says full fibre, not just fibre.
- Compare upload as well as download. Full fibre usually offers far better upload speeds, which help with video calls and sending files.
- Check your current contract. Find out when your minimum term ends so you know whether early termination charges would apply.
- If you rent, ask your landlord in case permission is needed for the installation.
Ofcom also runs its own broadband checker on its website, which can be a useful second opinion. If your address cannot get full fibre today, it is worth checking again from time to time, because new connections are being added all the time.
Check what your home can get
Cyber Fibre is a local provider based in Sunderland. Check your address to see which full fibre packages are available at your home, or call our team on 0191 543 3432 if you would like some advice.