Ofcom has published the 2020 edition of its Connected Nations report, offering a clear view of how UK telecoms networks coped during an unusually demanding year.
From working remotely and streaming entertainment to checking in by phone with vulnerable relatives and sharing short videos, reliable connectivity proved essential in 2020. The pandemic drove notable changes in how and when people used networks: daytime traffic rose substantially, although peak demand largely remained in the evenings.
Fixed Broadband
Average monthly fixed broadband data usage has jumped by almost 80 percent over two years and now stands at 429 GB per connection, up from 315 GB the previous year. Despite the increased load from the pandemic, Ofcom reports that networks operated well within their capacity limits.
Superfast broadband availability now reaches 96 percent of UK homes, a slight increase from 95 percent the year before. Ofcom estimates that around 60 percent of households with access to superfast services take them up.
As availability approaches saturation, annual growth rates naturally slow; the remaining unserved properties tend to be in very rural or hard-to-reach locations.
Ofcom estimates roughly 190,000 homes and businesses (about 0.6% of premises) still lack access to a decent broadband connection. Around 16,000 of these are eligible for a free connection under the universal service obligation, with no charge to the customer unless work exceeds a threshold cost.
The rollout of full-fibre broadband is accelerating. Full-fibre coverage is now available to approximately 5.1 million homes (18%), an increase of 2.1 million premises in a single year—the largest year-on-year rise recorded so far.
Gigabit-capable services, which include both full-fibre and the latest hybrid fibre/coaxial cable upgrades, are available to around 7.9 million homes (27%).
“Constant connectivity has proved itself to be absolutely essential during this coronavirus crisis, keeping lines of communication open throughout the UK. With remote working set to remain in place for many businesses into the New Year and becoming the norm, fast broadband speeds will be more important than ever,”
“The UK has made enormous progress over the last year building networks to offer households full-fibre connectivity. But now is not the time to take our foot off the pedal. In 2021, we need to accelerate even faster. As we prepare for a future outside the EU, we must work together as an industry to ensure every home, business, and public-sector site has access to the fastest, most reliable digital infrastructure. Only by doing so will the UK be ready to compete with countries across the world as a leading digital economy.”
Mobile Networks
Voice traffic increased over the year, reflecting more people working from home and relying on mobile phones to stay in touch. Although the pandemic disrupted many activities—especially during the first lockdown—mobile operators continued to expand 5G coverage.
The number of mobile base stations providing 5G services rose roughly tenfold to about 3,000 sites across the UK, with the distribution concentrated mainly in England (around 87%), and smaller shares in Scotland (7%), Wales (3%) and Northern Ireland (3%).
Vandalism and arson attacks on mobile towers, fuelled by false 5G conspiracy theories, caused significant disruption: Ofcom notes around 170,000 cumulative hours of service loss. There is no proven link between 5G and health risks, yet these attacks cut communities off from communications and emergency services, posing real and immediate dangers.
The four major mobile operators—EE, Vodafone, Three and O2—report outdoor coverage to 98–99% of premises. Coverage across the UK landmass ranges from roughly 79% to 85%.
Ofcom highlights the Shared Rural Network programme, agreed in March 2020, as a key initiative to improve landmass coverage by 2025. Under this agreement, the four operators will collaborate to extend coverage in areas that have lagged behind.
People in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland are expected to gain the most from the Shared Rural Network. Ofcom estimates around 43,000 premises currently lack both a decent fixed broadband service and reliable indoor 4G coverage.
Throughout a turbulent year, the engineers, technicians and support staff who maintained and expanded network services have played a critical role. While frontline healthcare and retail workers rightly received widespread appreciation, those who kept us connected also deserve recognition for enabling work, education, healthcare and family contact during the crisis.
Photo credit: Federico Beccari on Unsplash