What broadband can I get at my address? Full fibre, SoGEA, cable and altnets explained

Ofcom's latest figures (data to January 2026) put full fibre within reach of 24.9 million homes — 82% — and gigabit-capable broadband at 89%. This guide helps you answer three questions for your exact address: which networks reach you, what speed you will really get at busy times, and what your phone line needs before BT Group's analogue network closes on 31 January 2027.

Check your exact address

NetSaver doesn't run its own address checker and doesn't look up your address: we don't have a licensed address-level data source, and a guess based on a postcode can be wrong for your front door. Instead, use these official and network checkers, then come back to read what the result means.

Tips for an accurate result:

• Use your full address, not just the postcode. Full fibre can reach one side of a street and not the other.
• Check more than one source. Ofcom's checker shows the networks it has data for; each network's own checker is often more up to date for its own build. Small altnets may only appear on their own sites.
• Look for the technology, not the brand. A long list of providers often means they all sell on the same Openreach line.
• New-build homes and the newest streets are the most likely gaps. If nothing shows, ask the developer or the network directly.

What your result means

The four ways fixed broadband reaches UK homes

Every fixed connection in the UK is one of four technologies. What separates them is how much of the journey from the exchange to your router runs over fibre-optic cable, and how much over old copper or coaxial cable.

Full fibre (FTTP)

With full fibre, light carries your data all the way to the box on your wall, so your speed doesn't fade with distance the way it does on copper. That is why full-fibre speeds are far more consistent in the evening, and why upload speeds — the part that matters for video calls, cloud backups and sending large files — are often many times higher than on part-fibre.

Full fibre is built by several networks. Openreach (BT Group's network arm) is the largest — around 24 million premises by autumn 2026 — and almost every big-name provider sells on it. Virgin Media and its sister network nexfibre have built full fibre to about 9.4 million premises alongside the cable network. CityFibre — the largest alternative network, passing about 4.8 million premises at the end of September 2026 (4.6 million ready for service) — sells only wholesale, through retail providers. Dozens of smaller altnets build and sell their own service, often in towns or rural areas the big networks reached late.

SoGEA and FTTC (part-fibre)

FTTC (fibre to the cabinet) has been the UK's mainstream "fibre broadband" for more than a decade. SoGEA is the same technology sold without an analogue phone service — it is what FTTC customers are moved onto as the old phone network closes. Speeds top out at about 80Mbps down and 20Mbps up, but only homes very close to the cabinet get near that; Openreach says speeds drop noticeably beyond about 300–400 metres. The further your copper runs, the lower your speed, and old or damp copper adds faults.

If a provider advertises "fibre broadband" without the word full, assume it's part-fibre.

Cable (Virgin Media)

Virgin Media's cable network uses coaxial cable for the final stretch rather than copper phone wire. It delivers high download speeds without depending on distance from a cabinet, but upload speeds are much lower than download (around 100–200Mbps on its gigabit packages), and performance can dip when many neighbours are online. Virgin Media has moved some of its network to full fibre, but in November 2026 it said it would halt further full-fibre upgrades beyond existing commitments and instead upgrade its cable network to 2Gbps in 2027.

ADSL and what's left of copper

ADSL runs over copper all the way from the telephone exchange. It tops out at about 21–24Mbps and drops sharply with distance. ADSL delivered over the analogue phone line is being withdrawn alongside that network, so remaining ADSL customers are being moved to an all-digital product or to full fibre where available. If you are still on ADSL, your provider should already have contacted you.

Networks vs providers: why your result shows the brands it does

The company you pay (the provider) is often not the company whose cables reach your home (the network). This is the single most useful thing to understand before you compare deals, because the network decides your maximum speed and reliability, while the provider decides price, router, customer service and contract terms.

Retailer lists are from Openreach's and CityFibre's own pages and trade reports, checked in November 2026. Lists change, so use each network's checker to see who sells at your address.

Why the same address can show five brands — or one

If Openreach full fibre reaches you, you will usually see a long list of providers. If only an altnet reaches you, you might see a single brand. Neither is better in itself: one strong local network can beat a dozen brands reselling slow copper. What matters is which technology each option uses and what speed is estimated for your specific line.

Altnet consolidation: what happens if your network is sold

The UK's alternative networks are consolidating. CityFibre bought Lit Fibre in 2024 and has lined up £900m for further deals. nexfibre agreed to buy Netomnia, which sells as YouFibre, but the Competition and Markets Authority provisionally found competition concerns in October 2026 and is due to decide by 15 December 2026. London altnet G.Network went into administration in January 2026, kept trading, and came out of administration under new owners in March 2026.

If your network or provider is sold, your contract normally carries on. If the new owner wants to change your terms in a way that isn't to your benefit, Ofcom's rules mean it must tell you in advance, and you may be able to leave without penalty. In recent cases such as G.Network, administrators kept the service running while the business was restructured, but this isn't guaranteed. Two practical precautions: keep a note of your account details and contract end date, and if you depend on your connection for work, read our guide to backup internet.

What speed will you actually get?

Ignore the technology maximum ("up to 80Mbps", "up to 1Gbps"). Two other numbers matter when you shop: the advertised average speed, and the minimum speed guaranteed for your line.

Advertised "average" speed vs the speed at your address

Since 23 May 2018, UK broadband ads have had to quote speeds that at least half of a provider's customers on that package actually get between 8pm and 10pm — the busiest time of day — and describe them as "average". That rule, set by the Committee of Advertising Practice and enforced by the ASA, ended the old "up to" claims that only one customer in ten had to reach.

An advertised average is a fair comparison between packages, but it is not a promise for your home. On full fibre, your speed will usually be close to it. On SoGEA/FTTC, it can be far off, because half the customers on a package can be well below the average if they live a long way from their cabinet.

The number that protects you: minimum guaranteed speed

Before you sign up with a provider that follows Ofcom's Broadband Speeds Code of Practice, it should give you an estimated speed range for your line and a minimum guaranteed download speed, and confirm them in writing after the sale. If your speed falls below that minimum and the provider can't fix a problem on its network within 30 days of you reporting it, you can leave without paying an early exit fee. The right to exit also covers other services bought in the same bundle, such as phone and TV.

The code is voluntary. Ofcom lists the providers that have signed up — when we checked in November 2026: BT, EE, NOW Broadband, Plusnet, Sky, TalkTalk, Utility Warehouse, Virgin Media and Zen Internet. Keep the written confirmation: it's your evidence if things go wrong.

How much speed does your household need?

Speed is about what you do at the same time, not over a day. A home with one person streaming needs far less than a home with two remote workers on video calls while someone else games and a fourth person streams in 4K.

A simple rule: add up what your household does at its busiest moment, then double it for headroom and Wi-Fi losses. If upload matters (home working, content creation, backing up photos), full fibre is the fixed technology most likely to deliver it. The estimate below does the sums for you.

Estimate what your household needs

How many of these happen at the same time at your busiest moment? Leave a box empty for none.

This tool needs JavaScript, which seems to be switched off or still loading. The guide around it explains the same steps in words.

HD video streamsFilms, TV, YouTube in HD

4K video streams

Video callsWork or family calls in HD

Cloud gaming sessionsSuch as GeForce NOW or Xbox Cloud

Online games (console or PC)

People browsing or listening to music

We regularly upload large files or back up to the cloud

How this estimate works

We add up planning figures for each activity at the same moment — HD video 5Mbps, 4K 15Mbps (Netflix), a group video call 3.0Mbps down and 3.8Mbps up (Zoom), cloud gaming 25Mbps (NVIDIA), and our own allowance of 1Mbps for online gaming and for each person browsing — then double the total for Wi-Fi losses and short peaks. It is not a measurement of your connection. More in our methodology.

Is gigabit broadband worth it?

For most homes, not yet for the download speed alone — few households need anywhere near 1,000Mbps at once, and Wi-Fi often can't deliver it to a single device. But higher full-fibre tiers often come with much higher upload speeds, and price gaps between tiers have narrowed, so compare the total cost over the contract rather than assuming the cheapest tier is the best value. Before upgrading, run a speed test with a device wired to the router: if you're not getting your current package speed, a faster package won't fix your Wi-Fi.

No full fibre yet? Your options and timeline

About one home in five still can't order full fibre, and they are disproportionately rural. Here is how to find out whether it's coming, what help exists, and what to use in the meantime.

Is your home in a Project Gigabit contract?

Project Gigabit is the government's multi-billion-pound programme, run by Building Digital UK (BDUK), to pay networks to reach homes that commercial roll-outs won't. The government aims for gigabit-capable broadband to reach 99% of UK premises by 2032. Progress is real but gradual: by mid-October 2026, contractors had built 340,880 of the 861,890 premises in the 38 current contracts — roughly 40%.

If you're in England or Wales, use the government's gigabit broadband address checker to see whether your property is in a commercial or Project Gigabit build plan, then check the named network's own availability checker every few months. GOV.UK says the checker's accuracy isn't guaranteed. Ofcom's latest forward-looking analysis (May 2026) expects full fibre to reach between 87% and 90% of UK homes by January 2028, and around 92% by the end of 2028 if all announced plans are delivered.

Vouchers and community schemes are closing

The national Gigabit Broadband Voucher Scheme (grants of up to £4,500 per premises) closed to new projects on 31 August 2026. Only homes already in an existing voucher project can still benefit, and those projects must finish by the time the scheme closes on 31 March 2028. Scotland's own Scottish Broadband Voucher Scheme closes to new applications on 20 November 2026 (requests submitted before then will still be processed). Some councils and devolved governments run their own schemes, so check your council's broadband page before giving up on a community build.

Your legal right to "decent" broadband (the USO)

The Universal Service Obligation gives you the right to request a decent, affordable connection — at least 10Mbps download and 1Mbps upload — if you can't already get one and no publicly funded scheme will reach you within 12 months. BT handles requests across the UK except the Hull area, where KCOM does.

Two things have narrowed who qualifies. "Affordable" means no more than a set monthly price — BT's page put it at £59.60 a month in November 2026 — and the test is technology-neutral: if a 4G home broadband service meeting the standard is available at your address, or a satellite service within the price threshold, it counts as decent broadband and you won't qualify for a new fixed-line build. Ofcom said in 2026 that because satellite now falls within the price threshold, most homes without decent fixed or fixed-wireless broadband are no longer eligible for a USO build.

If you do qualify, the scheme pays up to £3,400 (excluding VAT) towards the cost of connecting you; above that, you can still go ahead if you pay the excess. Ask BT (or KCOM in Hull) to check your address.

What to use while you wait

• 4G or 5G home broadband — no engineer, often short or rolling contracts, and in good signal it can beat slow copper comfortably. Read 4G and 5G home broadband vs fibre and run the one-day signal test before you commit.
• Satellite broadband — the fallback when both copper and mobile signal are poor. Modern low Earth orbit services are a big step up from old satellite. See satellite broadband for homes without fibre.
• A better SoGEA set-up — if you're stuck on copper, check your router is plugged into the main socket, try a wired test, and ask your provider to check the line if speed is below your minimum guarantee.

Your phone line after 31 January 2027

BT Group plans to close the UK's analogue telephone network (the PSTN) on 31 January 2027, and Openreach has said repeatedly that the date will not move. Virgin Media and KCOM run their own timetables, and GOV.UK says most customers are expected to be moved by January 2027. If you have broadband and a home phone, this is the part of choosing broadband most likely to catch you out.

What changes — and what doesn't

• Your broadband keeps working. Part-fibre customers move to SoGEA (the same broadband, minus the analogue line); full-fibre customers already don't use it. Openreach has said consumer broadband lines won't be cut off on 31 January 2027.
• Home phone calls go digital. Your phone plugs into your router (or an adapter) instead of the wall socket, and calls travel over your broadband. Most people keep their number.
• Some lines carry on for now. Some lines run by providers on their own exchange equipment (known as MPF, used by some Sky and TalkTalk customers) are not part of the January 2027 switch-off, though providers are moving these customers to digital services too. Ask your provider which applies to you.
• If you haven't moved in time, your provider may move you to a temporary, limited last-resort phone service (Openreach calls it Emergency Voice Access, or eVAC) so that essential calls keep working while the switch is completed. It is a short-term safety net with fewer features, not a replacement — call your provider now rather than relying on it.

Telecare, alarms and anything else that "dials out"

Telecare pendants, some burglar and fire alarms, lift phones, card machines on old phone lines, and some medical devices were designed for analogue lines. Under the industry's PSTN Charter, phone providers have committed not to move known telecare users to a digital line until the customer, the provider or the telecare company has confirmed that a compatible, working telecare solution is in place.

Don't assume this happens automatically. If you or a relative use telecare or an alarm that uses the phone line:

• tell both the phone provider and the telecare or alarm company before any switch;
• ask how the device will connect after the switch, and what happens in a power cut or a broadband fault;
• after the switch, test the device with the telecare or alarm company, following its instructions.

Power cuts: the change most people miss

The old analogue network powered your phone from the exchange, so a corded phone usually worked in a power cut. A digital landline needs your router and fibre box to have mains power. When the power goes, so does your landline — and your broadband.

Ofcom's guidance says providers should offer customers who depend on their landline — for example, people with no mobile signal at home or who rely on telecare — at least one solution that lets them reach emergency services for at least one hour in a power cut, free of charge. Under the PSTN Charter, major providers have also said they will aim to go beyond that one-hour minimum, and in November 2024 they agreed extra safeguards for vulnerable customers before moving anyone who hasn't engaged with the switch.

One hour is short. Your mobile phone is the obvious fallback, but mobile masts need power too. Ofcom's 2025 analysis found only around a fifth of mast sites have at least an hour of battery back-up; thanks to phones roaming onto other networks, around two-thirds of people could still make emergency calls in a power cut lasting up to about an hour, and fewer in longer cuts. Ofcom's June 2026 resilience guidance sets expectations for mast backup without a fixed number of hours. A small UPS (battery backup) for your router and fibre box can help keep a digital landline working for longer — but how long depends on your equipment, so check the manufacturer's runtime figures and ask your provider what it offers. Our guide to backup internet explains how to size one.

Checklist: what to do now

• Check whether your phone still plugs into the wall socket. If it does, you probably haven't been switched yet.
• Call your provider and ask for a switch date and what equipment you need.
• List every device that uses your line — telecare, alarms, a fax, a card terminal — and tell your provider.
• If you rely on the landline, ask what power-cut solution your provider offers, and for how long.
• After the switch, make a test call to a friend or family member, and arrange a test of any alarm or telecare device with its provider.

Before you order: a five-point checklist

Once you know which networks reach you, these five checks separate a good deal from one you'll regret in month seven.

1. Confirm the technology and your guaranteed speed

Look for the words full fibre or FTTP. For part-fibre, ignore the headline and find the estimated speed range and minimum guaranteed speed for your address — providers on Ofcom's speeds code should show these before you buy.

2. Work out the total cost over the contract, including price rises

Since 17 January 2025, providers can't put inflation-linked or percentage price rises into new contracts. Any rise has to be written into the contract in pounds and pence, along with when it happens. Rises announced for 2026 ranged from about £2 to £4 a month for fixed broadband, according to Ofcom's 2026 pricing report. Multiply the monthly price by the months at each price, add set-up and router charges, and subtract any credit or reward. That total — not the headline monthly price — is the number to compare. Our cost calculator does the sums for up to three quotes.

If your contract started before 17 January 2025, it may still have an inflation-linked rise. Check your terms.

3. Let the new provider handle the switch (One Touch Switch)

Since 12 September 2024, Ofcom's One Touch Switch means you usually only contact your new provider, even when moving between different networks — for example from Openreach to Virgin Media or an altnet. The new provider arranges the switch and the old service ends on the switch date, so you shouldn't pay for both. You'll be told about any early termination charges from your old contract before you confirm. One Touch Switch covers fixed broadband and landline services, so it may not apply if you're moving to or from 4G/5G home broadband — check with both providers.

4. Check installation, especially in flats and rented homes

Full fibre usually needs an engineer visit to fit a small box (the ONT) inside and run a cable from the street or pole. On Openreach's network the visit usually takes between one and four hours, sometimes longer if extra work is needed (for example clearing a blocked duct); someone over 18 needs to be at home. In flats, the network may need a wayleave — written permission from the building owner — before it can wire the block. If you rent, get your landlord's permission for any drilling or new equipment; most will agree, but it's their property. Ask the provider whether installation is free and how long the lead time is.

5. Know your rights if something goes wrong

• Automatic compensation: if your provider is in Ofcom's scheme, you're credited automatically — £10.34 a day if a total loss of service isn't fixed within two full working days, £32.31 for a missed engineer appointment, and £6.46 a day if your new service starts late (the current rates on Ofcom's website in November 2026; they rise each year with inflation). Ten providers are signed up: BT, EE, Hyperoptic, Plusnet, Sky (including NOW Broadband), TalkTalk (Openreach lines), Utility Warehouse, Virgin Media, Vodafone and Zen Internet.
• Complaints: if a complaint isn't resolved within six weeks, you can take it to a free dispute resolution scheme, under Ofcom rules in force since 8 April 2026.
• Social tariffs: if you receive Universal Credit or certain other benefits, most large providers offer cheaper social tariffs (typically about £12.50–£24 a month for broadband). Ofcom found around 532,000 customers were on a broadband or mobile social tariff in June 2025 — fewer than one in ten eligible households. See Ofcom's list of social tariffs.

Frequently asked questions

What broadband can I get at my address?

Enter your full address into a checker that uses network data, not just retailer lists — Ofcom's checker and the networks' own checkers are the best places to start. As of January 2026, Ofcom says full fibre reaches 82% of UK homes and gigabit-capable broadband 89%. Homes without it usually rely on SoGEA (part-fibre over copper), Virgin Media cable, 4G/5G home broadband or satellite.

How do I know if full fibre is available in my area?

Check your exact address, not just the postcode — full fibre can reach one side of a street and not the other. Use a checker that lists networks (Openreach, Virgin Media, CityFibre and local altnets), and check again every few months if you're in a Project Gigabit contract area.

Does NetSaver check my address?

No. NetSaver doesn't run an address checker or collect addresses. We link to the official and network checkers and explain what their results mean.

What is the difference between FTTP and FTTC?

FTTP (full fibre) runs fibre-optic cable all the way into your home, so speed does not fall with distance. FTTC and SoGEA run fibre to a street cabinet and copper for the last stretch, so speed drops the further you are from the cabinet. FTTP is faster, more reliable and replacing copper.

Is SoGEA the same as fibre broadband?

SoGEA is part-fibre broadband — the same technology as FTTC — sold without an analogue phone line. It tops out at about 80Mbps down and 20Mbps up, and your speed depends on your distance from the cabinet. It is not full fibre.

Do I still need a landline for broadband?

No. Full fibre and SoGEA don't need an analogue phone line. If you want a home phone number, it runs digitally over your broadband, either included or as an add-on.

What happens to my landline in January 2027?

Your broadband keeps working, but any phone that plugs into the old wall socket must move to a digital service that runs through your router. BT Group plans to close the analogue network on 31 January 2027. Digital landlines need mains power, so ask your provider about battery backup if you rely on a landline or telecare alarm.

Will my phone work in a power cut after the switch?

Not unless your router and fibre box have backup power. Ofcom's guidance says providers should offer customers who depend on their landline a free solution giving at least one hour of emergency calling. A charged mobile phone or a UPS for your router are the usual fallbacks.

What is an altnet, and are altnet providers reliable?

An altnet is any full-fibre network other than Openreach and Virgin Media. Many offer fast, well-priced service. Reliability varies by network, so check independent reviews, whether the provider is in Ofcom's automatic compensation scheme, and how long it has operated in your area.

How long does a full fibre installation take?

On Openreach's network the engineer visit usually takes between one and four hours, sometimes longer if extra work is needed. Lead times from order to installation vary by network and area, and flats may need building permission (a wayleave) first. Your provider will give you a date when you order.

Can I get full fibre if I rent?

Usually yes, but you'll need your landlord's permission for installation work, and blocks of flats may need the building owner to sign a wayleave. The broadband contract itself is in your name, so you choose the provider.

How we checked this guide

Coverage figures, rules and network details were checked against Ofcom, GOV.UK, BDUK, Openreach, the networks' own pages and the Competition and Markets Authority on 8 November 2026; where only trade-press reports were available, we name them. NetSaver doesn't hold address-level availability data and hasn't run its own speed tests. The household estimate on this page uses the published guidance of the services listed in the table. More detail is in our methodology.

Sources

• Ofcom — Connected Nations update: Spring 2026
• Ofcom — Connected Nations: planned network deployments 2026
• Ofcom — Broadband speeds Code of Practice
• ASA — Broadband speed claims
• Ofcom — Ban on inflation-linked mid-contract price rises
• Ofcom — One Touch Switch
• Ofcom — Automatic compensation: what you need to know
• Ofcom — Quicker complaints resolution (six-week rule)
• Ofcom — Social tariffs
• Ofcom — Mobile power resilience technical report (2025)
• GOV.UK — Project Gigabit: premises contracted and built (October 2026)
• GOV.UK — Project Gigabit
• GOV.UK — Check your gigabit broadband availability
• GOV.UK — Gigabit Broadband Voucher Scheme information
• Scottish Government — Scotland's broadband programmes
• BT — Broadband Universal Service Obligation
• GOV.UK — UK transition from analogue to digital landlines
• GOV.UK — Public Switched Telephone Network charter
• GOV.UK — Ensuring telecom services are resilient
• GOV.UK — Safeguards for vulnerable people using safety alarms (November 2024)
• Openreach — PSTN switch-off update
• Openreach — Protecting broadband connections as the PSTN closure approaches
• Openreach — Superfast fibre broadband (FTTC)
• Openreach — Full fibre providers
• Openreach — Full fibre installation checklist
• Virgin Media — Gigabit broadband
• Virgin Media O2 — Q3 2026 results
• ISPreview — CityFibre network size and consolidation fund (October 2026)
• CityFibre — Acquisition of Lit Fibre
• ISPreview — G.Network moves forward debt-free (March 2026)
• ISPreview — Openreach post-January 2027 measures (September 2026)
• ISPreview — Ofcom Pricing Trends 2026 and social tariff take-up
• Netflix Help — Internet connection speed recommendations
• Zoom Support — Bandwidth requirements
• NVIDIA — GeForce NOW system requirements