Gigabit broadband is now available to almost 90% of UK homes, and some areas can access even faster multi-gigabit connections delivering speeds of 1.6Gbps to 5Gbps on full fibre networks.
However, availability still varies widely between towns, cities, and rural areas. Some homes remain limited to older superfast fibre connections, while others may have access to multiple full fibre providers offering much faster speeds.
The easiest way to find the fastest broadband available where you live is to use our free broadband postcode checker, which shows all available providers and lets you compare the fastest speeds at your address.
Check the fastest broadband in your area
The fastest broadband available depends entirely on which networks serve your specific address. Different streets - and sometimes neighbouring buildings - can have completely different broadband speeds depending on whether full fibre has been installed.
Use our broadband postcode checker below to see the fastest broadband deals currently available where you live, including gigabit and multi-gigabit full fibre plans.
Why the fastest broadband varies by postcode
Broadband speed is determined by the physical network connected to your home, not just the provider you choose. Providers such as Sky, BT, Vodafone, and TalkTalk often use the same Openreach infrastructure, meaning their maximum speeds will usually be identical at a given address.
However, other networks operate separately, including Virgin Media, Community Fibre, Hyperoptic, and CityFibre-based providers. Where these networks are available, homes may have access to significantly faster broadband speeds.
This means one home might be limited to 80Mbps fibre-to-the-cabinet broadband, while another nearby could access full fibre speeds of 1Gbps or more.
You can read more about the different full fibre broadband networks in the UK and how they overlap.
Test your current broadband speed
If you're unsure whether you're getting the fastest broadband available in your area, it's worth testing your current connection speed first. A broadband speed test measures your actual download speed, upload speed, and latency, showing how your connection performs in real-world conditions.
Ofcom recommends running speed tests at different times of day, particularly during busy evening hours, to build an accurate picture of your connection performance and identify whether speeds fall below expected levels.
You can use our free broadband speed test tool to instantly check your current connection speed.
If your results are significantly slower than gigabit or full fibre speeds available nearby, it may indicate that faster networks have been built in your area but you're still connected to an older broadband technology.
After testing your speed, use our postcode checker to see whether faster full fibre or gigabit broadband plans are now available at your address.
Typical fastest speeds by network availability
The fastest broadband available in your area depends on which network has built infrastructure there. The table below shows typical maximum residential speeds depending on network availability.
| Network available at your address | Typical fastest residential speed |
|---|---|
| FTTC (fibre to cabinet) | 35Mbps to 80Mbps |
| Openreach full fibre (FTTP) | Up to 900Mbps widely, up to 1.6Gbps in newer areas |
| Virgin Media cable (DOCSIS) | Up to 1.1Gbps |
| Virgin Media / Nexfibre full fibre | Up to 2Gbps |
| CityFibre full fibre | Up to 5Gbps where available |
| Independent full fibre networks (e.g. Community Fibre, Hyperoptic) | Up to 3Gbps to 5Gbps in select cities |
Most homes connected to full fibre can access speeds of at least 900Mbps, while multi-gigabit speeds above 1Gbps are currently limited to areas served by newer full fibre networks.
Fastest broadband networks by area
The fastest broadband available depends on which fibre networks operate where you live. Some national networks offer gigabit speeds almost everywhere, while smaller independent providers deliver multi-gigabit speeds in specific towns, cities, or regions.
The table below shows the fastest residential broadband networks in the UK and the main areas they currently serve.
| Network / provider | Maximum residential speed | Main coverage areas |
|---|---|---|
| CityFibre full fibre (Sky, Vodafone, Zen Internet) | Up to 5Gbps | Selected towns and cities across England and Scotland including York, Milton Keynes, Aberdeen, Peterborough, Coventry, and parts of the South Coast |
| Community Fibre | Up to 5Gbps | London (31 boroughs), plus expansion into Surrey and Sussex via Box Broadband network |
| YouFibre | Up to 7Gbps | Netomnia network areas including parts of Yorkshire, the North West, Midlands, and South East England |
| LightSpeed Broadband | Up to 5Gbps | East of England and East Midlands including Norfolk, Suffolk, Essex, Lincolnshire and Nottinghamshire |
| Highland Broadband | Up to 5Gbps | Scottish Highlands including Inverness, Fort William, and surrounding rural communities |
| Virgin Media | Up to 2Gbps | Nationwide urban and suburban coverage across more than 18 million homes, with newer full fibre areas supporting multi-gigabit speeds |
| Zzoomm | Up to 2.3Gbps | Regional towns including Hereford, Oxfordshire, Yorkshire, and parts of the South East |
| 4th Utility | Up to 2.3Gbps | Apartment developments and urban residential buildings across major UK cities |
| Trooli, Lightning Fibre | Up to 2Gbps | South East England including Kent, Sussex, Surrey, Hampshire and East Sussex coastal towns |
| Openreach full fibre (EE, Vodafone) | Up to 1.6Gbps | Nationwide rollout covering over 20 million premises across cities, towns, and rural areas |
Availability varies by postcode, and some areas may have access to multiple fibre networks with different maximum speeds. Use the postcode checker above to see exactly which networks serve your address.
CityFibre - up to 5Gbps
Coverage: Urban towns and cities across England and Scotland (excluding London)
CityFibre operates a full fibre network used by providers including Vodafone, Sky, and Zen Internet. Sky currently offers the fastest widely available CityFibre package, with symmetrical speeds of up to 5Gbps where supported, while Vodafone offers up to 2.2Gbps.
| Package | Broadband | Monthly price | Upfront price | Contract term | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 |
Full Fibre 5 Gigafast+ | 5Gb average | £80 | £5 | 24 months |
 |
Pro 3 Full Fibre 2.2 | 2.2Gb average | £46 | Free | 24 months |
 Offer: Existing Vodafone pay monthly customers get a £75 bill credit + £4 off for Vodafone pay monthly customers | |||||
Virgin Media and Nexfibre - up to 2Gbps
Coverage: Nationwide, primarily urban and suburban areas
Virgin Media operates its own broadband network covering over half of UK homes. Most areas can access the Gig1 plan at around 1.1Gbps, while newer full fibre areas built with Nexfibre support speeds of up to 2Gbps.
| Package | Broadband | Monthly price | Upfront price | Contract term | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 |
Gig2 Fibre Broadband + Netflix | 2Gb average | £51.99 | Free | 24 months |
|
Gig1 Fibre Broadband | 1.13Gb average | £31.99 | Free | 24 months |
Openreach full fibre - up to 1.6Gbps
Coverage: Nationwide, including many rural areas
Openreach provides the UK's largest full fibre network, used by providers including BT, Sky, TalkTalk, Plusnet, EE, and Vodafone. Most areas can access speeds up to 900Mbps, while Vodafone and EE offer plans up to 1.6Gbps.
| Package | Broadband | Monthly price | Upfront price | Contract term | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 |
Full Fibre 1.6Gb Premium | 1.6Gb average | £39.99 | Free | 24 months |
| Offer: £125 Reward Card + Unlimited data boost on EE pay monthly mobile plan (Ends 09/04/2026) | |||||
|
Pro 3 Full Fibre 1.6 | 1.6Gb average | £56 | Free | 24 months |
| Offer: Existing Vodafone pay monthly customers get a £75 bill credit + £4 off for Vodafone pay monthly customers | |||||
Community Fibre - up to 5Gbps
Coverage: London and parts of the South East
Community Fibre operates a dedicated full fibre network in London, offering symmetrical broadband speeds of up to 5Gbps in supported buildings.
| Package | Broadband | Monthly price | Upfront price | Contract term | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 |
5Gbps Premium WiFi Fibre Broadband | 5Gb average | £63 | Free | 24 months |
| Offer: Installed in as little as 48 hours + Free setup | |||||
|
1Gbps Fibre Broadband | 920Mb average | £23 | Free | 24 months |
| Offer: Installed in as little as 48 hours + Free setup | |||||
YouFibre (Netomnia network) - up to 7Gbps
Coverage: Cities and towns across England, including parts of Yorkshire, the North West, Midlands, and the South
YouFibre operates on the Netomnia full fibre network, which is expanding rapidly across the UK. Their fastest residential plan offers symmetrical speeds of up to 7Gbps, making it one of the fastest broadband services currently available to homes.
The network is expanding following Virgin Media O2's acquisition of Netomnia, which is expected to accelerate rollout to millions more premises.
LightSpeed Broadband - up to 5Gbps
Coverage: East of England and East Midlands, including parts of Norfolk, Suffolk, Essex, Lincolnshire, and surrounding towns
LightSpeed Broadband offers symmetrical full fibre broadband with speeds up to 5Gbps in areas where its network has been deployed. Their rollout focuses on smaller towns and suburban areas underserved by larger networks.
| Package | Broadband | Monthly price | Upfront price | Contract term | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 |
Full Fibre 5Gb | 5Gb average | £79.99 for 6 mths, then £89.99 |
£35 | 24 months |
Highland Broadband - up to 5Gbps
Coverage: Scottish Highlands and rural communities
Highland Broadband delivers full fibre connectivity to rural areas of Scotland, offering symmetrical broadband speeds up to 5Gbps in supported locations.
| Package | Broadband | Monthly price | Upfront price | Contract term | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 |
Ultimate | 5Gb average | £49.99 | Free | 24 months |
| Offer: Half price | |||||
Zzoomm - up to 2.3Gbps
Coverage: Market towns across England including parts of Oxfordshire, Herefordshire, Yorkshire, and the South West
Zzoomm provides full fibre broadband with symmetrical speeds up to 2.3Gbps. Their rollout focuses on smaller towns and communities often overlooked by larger national providers.
| Package | Broadband | Monthly price | Upfront price | Contract term | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 |
2300 Full Fibre | 2.3Gb average | Free for 3 mths, then £49 |
Free | 24 months |
| Offer: £75 e-Gift Card + First 3 months free (Ends 31/03/2026) | |||||
4th Utility - up to 2.3Gbps
Coverage: New-build housing developments across England
4th Utility specialises in fibre broadband for apartment buildings and new housing developments, offering symmetrical speeds of up to 2.3Gbps where installed.
| Package | Broadband | Monthly price | Upfront price | Contract term | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 |
2.3Gbps | 2.3Gb average | £40 | Free | 24 months |
| Offer: Free activation | |||||
Lightning Fibre - up to 2Gbps
Coverage: South East England, including East Sussex and Kent
Lightning Fibre operates a regional full fibre network offering symmetrical broadband speeds up to 2Gbps in supported towns and coastal communities.
| Package | Broadband | Monthly price | Upfront price | Contract term | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 |
Hyper Lightning Plus | 2Gb average | £19 for 6 mths, then £40 |
Free | 24 months |
| Offer: Sale price: £19 for 6 months | |||||
Trooli - up to 2Gbps
Coverage: South East England and East Anglia, including Kent, Sussex, Suffolk, and Cambridgeshire
Trooli provides full fibre broadband with speeds up to 2Gbps, focusing on rural towns and suburban areas where gigabit broadband was previously unavailable.
| Package | Broadband | Monthly price | Upfront price | Contract term | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 |
Pro | 2Gb average | £39.99 | Free | 24 months |
Because these networks are built independently, availability varies widely. Using our postcode checker page will show which of these networks serve your address and the fastest broadband currently available.
Full fibre rollout is expanding rapidly
Full fibre broadband is still being rolled out across the UK, meaning faster speeds may become available at your address in the future. According to Ofcom's Connected Nations report, gigabit-capable broadband now covers the vast majority of UK premises, but availability still varies significantly between urban and rural areas.
Openreach alone plans to reach 25 million premises with full fibre, while Virgin Media and Nexfibre are expanding coverage toward a combined footprint of around 23 million homes. CityFibre is also building its network across towns and cities throughout England and Scotland.
Many smaller independent networks are focusing on specific cities or regions, which is why some areas can access speeds of 3Gbps or more while others remain limited to slower connections.
You can read more about national rollout plans in our guides to gigabit broadband and full fibre coverage targets.
How to find the fastest broadband at your address
The only reliable way to determine the fastest broadband available is to run a postcode availability check, which identifies the physical networks serving your property.
Availability can vary even within the same town depending on network rollout progress, new housing developments, and whether multiple fibre networks operate in the area.
If full fibre is not yet available at your address, speeds may improve as rollout continues. Checking availability periodically can help you identify when faster services become available.
You can also read our main guide to the fastest broadband in the UK to compare providers and technologies nationally.
Summary: fastest broadband depends on network availability
The fastest broadband available at your address depends entirely on which fibre networks have been built there. While some homes can access multi-gigabit speeds of 5Gbps or more, others may still be limited to slower fibre connections.
Use our postcode checker to see the fastest broadband currently available where you live, and compare providers by speed and price.
