Broadband Availability Checker

Broadband availability varies address by address - one street can have full fibre while the next is still on copper. Before you commit to a contract (or a new premises), it's worth checking which connection types actually reach your postcode and the speeds you can realistically expect.

How the availability checker works

The results come from Ofcom, the UK communications regulator, which collects predicted broadband availability and speeds for every address in the UK and publishes it as an impartial dataset. We look up every address point in your postcode and show, for each connection type, how many addresses can get it and the typical (median) predicted download and upload speeds.

Speeds are the networks' own predictions for the line, not live measurements - the speed you actually get also depends on the package you buy, your router and your in-building wiring or Wi-Fi. Treat the results as a shortlist, and confirm the exact speed estimate for your address with the provider before ordering.

What the connection types mean

• Standard broadband (ADSL) - runs over the copper phone line, topping out around 10-20 Mbps. Fine for email and card terminals, but slow for cloud backups, video calls or a busy office.

• Superfast broadband - 30 Mbps and up, usually fibre to the street cabinet with copper for the last stretch (FTTC). The workhorse for most small businesses today.

• Ultrafast broadband - 300 Mbps and up, delivered by full fibre (FTTP) or cable. Full fibre is the gold standard: faster uploads, more reliable, and the copper network it replaces is being retired.

Why upload speed matters for business

Consumer broadband is sold on download speed, but businesses feel upload limits first: cloud backups, video calls, sending large files and running card machines or VoIP phones all push data the other way. Copper-based connections are very asymmetric - a 67 Mbps download line might upload at under 20 Mbps - while full fibre typically uploads many times faster. If the checker shows ultrafast available at your postcode, that's usually the one to price up.

Frequently asked questions

How accurate are the results?

They're predictions collected by Ofcom from the network operators - reliable for what's available, but the exact speed at your address can differ from the postcode typical. Every provider must give you a speed estimate for your specific line before you sign, so use the checker to shortlist and the provider's estimate to decide.

Why can my neighbour get full fibre when I can't?

Fibre is built street by street, and a postcode can sit right on the boundary of a rollout. If the checker shows ultrafast at "some addresses", yours may simply not be connected yet - it's worth checking with providers directly, and registering interest so you're told when the rollout reaches you.

What speed does my business actually need?

As a rule of thumb: 30 Mbps handles a couple of people comfortably, 100 Mbps suits a small team on cloud apps and video calls, and full fibre is worth it for anything involving large files, many users or phone systems. Reliability and upload speed matter as much as the headline download figure.

Can I get faster broadband than my postcode shows?

Sometimes - dedicated leased lines can be installed almost anywhere (at a price), and 4G/5G broadband can beat a poor fixed line in well-covered areas. If nothing here looks fast enough, those are the routes to explore with a broadband specialist.