United Kingdom's gigabit-capable broadband proves to be continuously reaching more and more houses as 80% of households can now get gigabit-capable broadband, according to Ofcom's latest market update.
UK mobile coverage has also reportedly improved, according to the Connected Nations spring update. 92% of UK premises can now receive an outdoor 5G signal from at least one mobile network operator, up from 82% in just a year.
Data from the Connected Nations study, which was based on mobile and fixed broadband coverage in the UK as of January 2024, also show that 62% of UK households, or 18.7 million homes, had access to full-fibre broadband.
(Photo : mohamed Hassan from Pixabay) A baseless claim saying 5G causes coronavirus led people to burn down cell towers.
The number of locations without adequate broadband, which the government defines as at least 10 Mbps download and 1 Mbps upload speeds, has steadily decreased over the past year, going from 68,000 to 57,000.
Additionally, mobile coverage is getting better. Within a year, 92% of UK properties were able to receive a 5G signal outside from no fewer than one mobile network operator, up from 82%.
In terms of mobile, the research indicates that 4G coverage is still robust, with 93% of the UK's landmass expected to have decent outdoor 4G service from at least one provider. Almost every location in the UK is included in this section. Over the preceding four months, 5G coverage has likewise stayed consistent, with 92% of premises receiving an outside 5G signal from at least one mobile network operator.
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IT Infrastructures Across England
Ofcom's latest report proves to be echoing a previously reported study that found ICT infrastructures across England are more or less equal, driven by widespread mobile phone and high-speed internet availability across England. Urban areas perform slightly better than rural regions.
The same study indicated that from 2016 to 2020, improvements in IT infrastructure, particularly access to high-speed internet have significantly increased across all regions.
A stable and high-quality internet connection proves to be paramount in the country for a multitude of reasons. Previous Connected Nation reports have highlighted the risks of a potential digital divide between those who have access to gigabit networks and services and those without. This decreased from the previous year from 68,000 to 57,000.
Ofcom's update shows there has been steady progress in lowering the number of premises without access to "decent" broadband, which the government defines as a download rate of at least 10 Mbps and upload rates of 1 Mbps.
EV Charging and Mobile Internet
Without a stable internet connection, a recent study found that electric vehicle charging points could stop working. To function, the majority of charging points need strong cellphone connections, which puts EV drivers' access to charging stations in danger.
The investigation finds that, outside of London, 66% of Type-2 chargers with up to 8 kW of speed are located in areas where at least one 4G mobile network carrier does not provide usable service. Drivers must use mobile phone applications to access the majority of Type-2 public chargers, and the chargers themselves need a stable mobile connection to function.
The study states that drivers cannot refuel their EVs unless the charger's location offers satisfactory service from all four of Britain's mobile network providers: O2, EE, Vodafone, and Three.
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