Why This Matters
Broadband Is Now a Utility - As Important as Water or Gas
Before 2020, broadband speed was a convenience. Post-pandemic, it is infrastructure. With over 40% of the UK workforce now working from home at least part of the time, a property without reliable high-speed broadband is functionally unsuitable for a significant proportion of buyers.
The consequences of buying a property with inadequate broadband can be severe: inability to video conference reliably, inability to stream 4K content, reduced property value when you come to sell. For rural properties in particular, ADSL broadband at 5–10Mbps is effectively a dealbreaker for remote workers.
Meanwhile, the UK's full fibre rollout is making connectivity one of the most rapidly changing property attributes. A property that was stuck on ADSL in 2023 may be on a gigabit FTTP connection by 2026. Equally, a property advertised with "superfast fibre" may only have FTTC - not the full fibre (FTTP) that buyers increasingly expect. Our report uses Ofcom's address-level data to give you the precise picture.
of UK premises can access gigabit broadband (2024)
Ofcom Connected Nations
of UK workers now work from home at least part of the time
ONS 2024
property value premium for gigabit broadband availability
Rightmove / Ofcom
UK Universal Service Obligation minimum speed guarantee
Ofcom
UK Broadband Connection Types Explained
FTTP (Full Fibre)
Up to 1GbpsFibre to the Premises - the fastest and most future-proof connection. Fibre cable runs directly to the property. Available from Openreach, Virgin Media, and numerous altnets.
FTTC (Fibre to Cabinet)
Up to 80MbpsFibre to the Cabinet - fibre runs to the street cabinet; the final stretch to your property uses copper telephone wire. Speed depends heavily on distance from the cabinet.
Cable (HFC)
Up to 1GbpsHybrid Fibre-Coaxial - predominantly Virgin Media. Fast and reliable but only available in approximately 50% of UK premises. Consistent speeds unaffected by distance.
ADSL
Up to 24MbpsAsymmetric Digital Subscriber Line - traditional copper telephone line broadband. Still the only option in some rural areas. Speed degrades significantly with distance from the exchange.
What HouseDossier Checks
Broadband, Mobile & Connectivity - All Covered
Broadband Technology Available
Whether the property can receive FTTP (full fibre), FTTC (fibre to cabinet), cable (Virgin Media), or only ADSL. The technology available largely determines the maximum speed achievable.
Predicted Download & Upload Speeds
Ofcom median predicted download and upload speeds for the specific address - not just an advertised headline figure. Ofcom uses actual performance data from the UK Fixed-Line Broadband Performance Measurement dataset.
Gigabit & Ultrafast Availability
Whether a gigabit-capable (1,000Mbps+) or ultrafast (100Mbps+) connection is available at the specific address - the most important question for home workers and high-demand households.
5G & 4G Mobile Coverage
Outdoor and indoor coverage from EE, Three, O2, and Vodafone at 4G and 5G. Where broadband is weak, strong mobile data coverage may provide a viable backup solution.
How It Works
Your Connectivity Report in Three Steps
Enter the property address
We identify the UPRN and query Ofcom's Connected Nations dataset at address level - more precise than postcode-level data, where a single postcode can span properties with very different connectivity.
Broadband and mobile data retrieved
Ofcom's address-level broadband availability data is queried, along with mobile coverage data from the four main UK networks. Data is refreshed twice yearly from Ofcom's Connected Nations reporting cycle.
Connectivity profile delivered in plain English
You receive a clear connectivity rating: whether the property has full fibre, ultrafast or superfast broadband, with predicted speeds and a mobile coverage summary for all four networks.
Report Preview
What Your Connectivity Report Includes
Connectivity - Broadband & Mobile
Section 10 of your HouseDossier report
- Broadband technology available (FTTP / FTTC / Cable / ADSL)
- Gigabit-capable availability (yes / no)
- Ultrafast (100Mbps+) availability (yes / no)
- Predicted download speed (Mbps)
- Predicted upload speed (Mbps)
- Full fibre (FTTP) available from specific providers
- EE 4G and 5G indoor/outdoor coverage
- Three 4G and 5G indoor/outdoor coverage
- O2 4G and 5G indoor/outdoor coverage
- Vodafone 4G and 5G indoor/outdoor coverage
- Plain-English connectivity rating (excellent/good/fair/poor)
Pricing
Connectivity Check Included in Every Report
Quick Check
- Broadband technology & speeds
- Mobile coverage (4G/5G)
- Flood risk
- EPC rating
- Schools & crime data
Full Dossier
- All 4 network providers (4G/5G)
- Transport & walkability score
- Air quality & noise levels
- All 15 report sections
- AI summary & red flags
FAQ
Broadband & Connectivity - Frequently Asked Questions
Does broadband availability affect property value?
What is the UK Universal Service Obligation for broadband?
What is the difference between superfast and ultrafast broadband?
Can I check broadband speed for a specific address rather than a postcode?
What mobile coverage data is included?
Is fibre broadband available in my area?
Does broadband availability affect buy-to-let rental demand?
Check Connectivity Now
Check broadband before you commit to a property
Ofcom broadband and mobile coverage data for any UK address - instantly.
Try a postcode (SW1A 2AA) or “12 SW1A 2AA”. Covers England and Wales.
Free preview included. Full connectivity report from £9.95.