UK telecoms regulator Ofcom has announced new rules to accelerate the nationwide rollout of full-fibre broadband.
The proposals aim to stimulate further competition and investment in the sector and build on measures introduced in 2021. Ofcom estimates its plans could enable full-fibre connections to reach around 96% of homes and businesses within the next two years.
That would be a significant advance from four years ago, when fewer than one in four premises had access to full-fibre services.
Natalie Black, Group Director for Networks and Communications at Ofcom, said: “The rollout of full fibre across the UK is a British infrastructure success story. 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 we are setting out how we can work with the sector to finish the job.”
Since 2021, Ofcom’s initial regulatory framework encouraged existing network operators to invest in full-fibre infrastructure while lowering the barriers for new entrants by improving access to Openreach’s ducts and telegraph poles. Those measures helped accelerate coverage, though the rollout followed a slow start and still lagged behind some European peers.
Industry commentary following Ofcom’s Connected Nations update, which reported 57% full-fibre coverage in early 2024, highlighted that the UK remained behind countries such as Portugal, Spain, Sweden, Norway and France in overall fibre penetration.
Alex Tofts, Broadband Expert at Broadband Genie, said: “Full-fibre coverage of 57 percent means we are lagging behind other European countries such as Portugal, Spain, Sweden, Norway, and France. Further progress is needed to support the nation’s current and future digital demands.”
Ofcom’s new proposals aim to help the UK catch up with European counterparts and, ideally, position the country as a leader in full-fibre deployment.
Greg Mesch, CEO of CityFibre, welcomed the review: “Ofcom’s Telecoms Access Review marks yet another major milestone in creating a sustainable competitive market. By supporting wholesale network competition, Ofcom is helping to drive better services, greater choice, and lower prices for consumers and businesses, while unlocking economic growth across the country. We fully support Ofcom’s direction and look forward to working together to ensure the UK benefits from a thriving, sustainable digital infrastructure market.”
Today, around 69% of UK premises—approximately 20.7 million—have access to full fibre, up from 40% (11.6 million premises) in 2021. Gigabit-capable network coverage has also grown, reaching about 83% of premises. That expanding infrastructure has increased consumer choice: more than 70% of premises can now choose from two or more different broadband networks.
Regulating to support the UK full-fibre broadband rollout
Widespread access to high-quality broadband is viewed as essential for economic growth, better connectivity in remote communities, higher productivity and the digitisation of public services. Ofcom stresses that further investment is needed to reach the final percentage points and secure the UK’s full-fibre future.
While new network operators are entering the market, they need time to build scale and long-term sustainability. Encouraging customers to move from legacy copper-based services to full-fibre is vital; adoption rates are increasing but must continue to rise for the market to mature.
To maintain momentum, Ofcom has set out proposals for regulating wholesale broadband markets from 2026 to 2031 as part of its Telecoms Access Review. The proposed framework builds on the 2021 rules and aims to provide stability, support fair and sustainable competition, and ensure broad availability of full-fibre services across the UK.
Natalie Black added: “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.”
Key proposals in Ofcom’s consultation include:
- Promoting competition: With new infrastructure expanding faster than expected, Ofcom plans to treat more areas as having existing or potential competition between broadband networks. Competing providers will continue to have access to Openreach’s ducts and poles so they can extend their full-fibre networks and connect customers more quickly and cost-effectively than by digging new routes. Ofcom also intends to tighten rules around Openreach’s wholesale deals and discounts to prevent unfair practices that could hinder rivals.
- Fibre rollout for rural Britain: In remote and rural locations where commercial investment is harder to justify, Ofcom will prioritise incentives for Openreach to deploy full fibre. Where commercial competition is unlikely, the regulator proposes new “backstop” standards for the speed and quality of repairs and installations to protect service levels for consumers and businesses.
- Protecting customers: To shield consumers as competition develops, Ofcom proposes capping the nominal price Openreach can charge retail providers (such as Sky or TalkTalk) for download speeds up to 80 Mbit/s, up from the current 40 Mbit/s threshold. Prices for higher-speed products would remain unregulated to preserve investment incentives for providers deploying advanced networks.
- Shuttering the copper network: Ofcom supports an orderly transition from the legacy copper network to fibre. The regulator believes Openreach should avoid bearing unnecessary costs from operating parallel copper and fibre networks and expects the company to begin closing redundant telephone exchanges in coming years.
- Looking beyond 2031: Ofcom expects to continue supporting investment and competition if necessary after the five-year review period. If future price controls on Openreach are required, the company could be allowed to earn a return above its costs over time, and the long-term ambition is that effective competition would eventually make regulatory intervention unnecessary.
Ofcom’s consultation on the proposed regulations runs until 12 June 2025, with final decisions expected in March 2026 before the current rules expire at the end of that month.
(Image by Brigitte Werner)
See also: NVIDIA aims to make telecoms networks smarter
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