Ofcom’s reporting on UK broadband infrastructure shows rural broadband customers still struggle to access modern internet speeds.
With high-speed internet access becoming increasingly essential for modern life, the lack of access to modern infrastructure is leaving those working or studying in rural areas struggling to keep up.
However, a number of independent broadband providers are working to provide super-fast and higher speeds to customers, even in remote parts of the UK.
Rural broadband access continues to lag behind
Ofcom (The UK independent telecoms regulator) found that 22% of rural broadband customers received speeds below 30 Mbps. This is the minimum speed considered superfast in the UK, and is less than half the average speed for a home connection of 73.21 Mbps.
Even more concerningly, 8% of rural properties can only access broadband speeds of 10 Mbps.
Mbps or slower, compared to 1% of urban properties. This equates to more than 750,000 homes without a superfast broadband connection.
When it comes to full fibre broadband, also known as FTTP or Fibre To The Premises broadband, there is also a clear divide between city and countryside. 64% of urban properties have access to FTTP broadband, compared to just 46% of rural broadband connections.
Where in the UK has the slowest internet speeds?
The three areas with the slowest recorded average broadband speeds are the Outer Hebrides (39.086 Mbps), Argyll and Bute (38.676 Mbps) and the Isles of Scilly (24.536Mbps).
All three are rural areas, with island communities like the Outer Hebrides and Scilly Isles being particularly affected by the lack of connection to major broadband networks on the mainland.
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Two of the three slowest areas are also located in Scotland, which has the worst access to full-fibre broadband across the UK. Just 61.33% of homes in Scotland have access to full fibre broadband, compared to 68.45% in London and 95.15% in Northern Ireland.
Independent companies bringing higher speeds to rural broadband customers
There is some good news for customers looking for high-speed rural broadband. A number of independent broadband suppliers have begun offering alternatives to the UK’s major networks, often focusing on providing superfast and ultrafast connections in underserved areas.
Some, such as Gigaclear, operate by identifying areas with poor broadband availability and installing new fibre optic cabling at street level.
While this addresses the problem for customers in the serviced areas, there are several drawbacks to this approach. Firstly, this still only offers access to customers in a limited service area, as chosen by Gigaclear. Second, there can be a long wait between an area requesting faster internet access and the cabling actually being installed, as the provider works to establish local interest and negotiate with landowners and councils.
Other independent broadband providers, such as Connectivity, use the UK’s mobile network to power home WiFi connections. Areas with 4G and 5G mobile signal can enjoy fibre-equivalent broadband speeds without waiting for installation.
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Sep 23, 2025
