Full-fibre broadband is on course to become available to almost the entire country by 2027, UK comms regulator Ofcom has announced, as it sets out how it plans to continue to drive industry momentum for the final phase of the rollout.

Building on its cornerstone regulations introduced in 2021, Ofcom is publishing proposals to further boost competition and investment in full-fibre connections, which – according to telecoms industry data – could reach 96 per cent of homes and businesses within the next two years.

“The roll out of full fibre across the UK is a British infrastructure success story,” declared Natalie Black, Ofcom’s Group Director for Networks and Communications. “Four years ago, less than a quarter of UK homes and offices had access, and it now stands at nearly seven in 10. But we do not take this momentum for granted and today, Ofcom is setting out how we can work with the sector to finish the job.”

“It means that people and businesses in nearly all corners of the country will get faster, better broadband, fuelling economic growth and enabling technologies like artificial intelligence to benefit everyone.”

Four years ago, less than a quarter of British homes and offices could access full-fibre broadband. So in 2021 Ofcom introduced a new regulatory framework to supercharge the rollout.

It incentivised existing networks to invest, while making it cheaper and easier for new entrants to the market to build using Openreach’s ducts and telegraph poles. As a result the UK has seen one of the fastest rates of roll out of full-fibre broadband in Europe, with industry investment ranging between £3 billion and £6 billion each year.

Around seven in 10 premises (69 per cent or 20.7 million) now have access to full fibre, while coverage of gigabit-capable networks has increased from 11.6 million premises (40 per cent) in 2021 to 25 million (83 per cent) in 2024. For customers, more than seven in 10 premises can now choose between two or more different broadband networks.

Ofcom has collated the latest data from telecoms companies, which shows that full-fibre coverage could reach 96 per cent by 2027 with the right regulation and support.

Regulating to further boost investment and competition

Achieving near-universal high-quality broadband will help power economic growth, unlock the potential of remote communities, enable productivity gains and support public services as they become more digital. But Ofcom says it recognises that further investment is still needed for the final push to ensure the UK’s full fibre future becomes a reality.

Competition from new broadband networks is developing but it will take time to become sustainable, as new entrants strive to build their customer base and achieve scale. Attracting customers to move from legacy networks to full fibre is key to the success of all providers, and take-up is steadily increasing.

To help maintain industry momentum and support further rollout, Ofcom is setting out how it proposes to regulate the wholesale broadband markets from 2026-2031 as part of its Telecoms Access Review.

Building on the strong foundation of its 2021 regulations, Ofcom says its proposed framework will provide stability and clarity for the market, promote fair and sustainable competition, and ultimately help ensure the availability of full-fibre broadband across countless more UK villages, towns and cities.

Its proposals include:

• Promoting competition. Reflecting the greater-than-expected level of new infrastructure build, Ofcom now proposes to identify more of the UK as having competition between broadband networks, or the potential for it. Under its plans, competitors will continue to have access to Openreach’s ducts and poles, so they can roll out their new full-fibre networks and connect customers quickly and at a lower cost than digging themselves. Ofcom also proposes to strengthen its rules around Openreach’s wholesale deals and discounts, so that it cannot unfairly stifle competition.
• Fibre roll-out for rural Britain. In the most rural or remote parts of the country where investment in new networks is less commercially attractive, Ofcom will focus on promoting full-fibre build by Openreach. Separately, where Openreach is unlikely to face competition, Ofcom is also proposing new backstop standards around the speed and quality of repairs and installations for full-fibre services.
• Protecting customers. While network competition develops, Ofcom will protect consumers by capping the nominal price that Openreach can charge retail providers – such as Sky or TalkTalk – for download speeds up to 80Mbit/s, rather than 40Mbit/s at present. The prices of higher-speed products will still be free from regulation, so Openreach and other providers retain the incentive to invest in better networks.
• Closing the copper network. Ofcom supports a smooth transition from old copper lines to fibre. Openreach should not have to incur unnecessary costs for running two networks at the same time, and it will also begin to close redundant telephone exchanges over the coming years.
• Going beyond 2031. Ofcom expects to continue its approach of supporting investment and competition if it is still emerging in five years’ time. If there is a need to set price controls on Openreach in the future, over time the company would have the opportunity to earn a return above the cost of its investment. After 2031, if effective competition has developed, there will be no need for Ofcom to regulate.

Next steps

Ofcom’s proposals are open for consultation until June 12th, 2025, and it intends to publish its decisions in March 2026 before the current rules expire at the end of that month.

In response to the proposals, Mark Shurmer, MD for Regulation at Openreach, commented: “As a country, we need to promote incentives to invest in projects which drive economic growth. Ofcom’s last review stimulated increased investment, stronger competition and better service outcomes for customers and that’s why it’s vital this one delivers the certainty and stability we need to continue investing in broadband upgrades across the UK. At first glance, these proposals offer broad continuity, but we’ll be engaging closely with Ofcom on the details, to make sure the rules continue to prioritise investment, growth and customer satisfaction throughout the country.”

Other posts by :

1. Russian satellite tumbling out of control
2. FCC boss praises AST SpaceMobile
3. Rakuten makes historic satellite video call
4. Rocket Lab confirms D2C ambitions
5. Turkey establishes satellite production ecosystem
6. Italy joins Germany in IRIS2 alternate thoughts
7. Kazakhstan to create museum at Yuri Gagarin launch site
8. AST SpaceMobile gets $42 or $1500 price target
9. Analyst: GEO bloodbath taking place

Categories: Articles, Broadband, Business, FTTH, Policy, Regulation, Telco

Tags: Full fibre, Ofcom, Openreach