About the mobile and broadband checker
This FAQ is also available in Welsh.
General information
My Postcode or property address doesn’t appear on the checker, why?
Ofcom uses data from the Ordnance Survey to provide the base dataset used to assess broadband and mobile coverage for properties in the UK. This data is updated in our checker three times a year, so some properties may not be identified at least until these updates have been implemented.
How can I find out about outages that may affect my services?
Please go to your provider’s website to see status updates about any outages that may be affecting your services.
Broadband availability checker: frequently asked questions
What is standard broadband?
Standard broadband services deliver download speeds up to 30 Mbit/s.
What is ultrafast broadband?
Ultrafast broadband services deliver download speeds above 300Mbit/s. These speeds are typically delivered on a cable network or through a fibre connection to the home.
What is Fixed Wireless Access?
Fixed Wireless Access (FWA) is where the broadband service is provided over a wireless network, either via a mobile network or a dedicated wireless network. The coverage information is based on operators’ predictive modelling tools and localised issues may mean that particular premises may not be able to receive a service despite being predicted to do so.
What is the broadband USO?
If you can’t get a download speed of 10 Mbit/s and an upload speed of 1 Mbit/s, you can request an upgraded connection subject to eligibility criteria. You can make this request to BT, or to KCOM if you live in the Hull area. You do not need to be an existing customer of BT or KCOM to apply.
More information is available on the Ofcom website.
There is no information for my postcode or address. Why is that?
The predicted speeds used in the checker are provided by the leading UK broadband networks. If no predictions are shown for your address this does not necessarily mean that broadband is not available and we suggest that you check availability on the networks’ websites.
My local network is not included in the checker. Why is that?
While we aim to seek coverage information from all fixed broadband network providers in the UK, there may be some network providers we do not currently collect information from. If you would like your network to be included in our checker, please email us via connectednationsreport@ofcom.org.uk
Why is the speed I receive slower than the predicted speed on the checker?
There are a number of factors that affect the speed that can be received on a device, for example the performance of the in-building network and the number of devices that are also accessing online services at the same time.
The length, age and repair of the line itself may also affect the performance of the line. In this case, this may be able to be addressed by your provider.
How do I find out which provider is available at my address?
The information for this coverage checker is collected from broadband network providers. Some, but not all, sell services directly to customers. Where the network provider does not sell their services directly to customers, you should be able to find information about the resellers of that network via the link to the network provider’s website included in our web checker.
My service provider tells me that a service is not available but it appears available on your checker. Why is that?
Services may not be available at specific locations and/or at specific times for operational reasons. For example, access to a property to provide a new line may require permission from a landlord or the equipment required to provide service may need maintenance or upgrading. Speak to your provider to find out more details and estimated times for delivery.
I know that there is a fixed broadband service at my property but your checker doesn't recognise this. Why not?
If your provider is not listed on this checker, please contact your provider and also let us know through the feedback link. We collect network coverage information from an increasing number of infrastructure providers, but there may be some - particularly smaller networks - that are not yet included. We are encouraging network providers to contact us so that we can collect and use data on their network availability. There may also be a delay between a provider deploying networks in an area and that service being available to consumers. Look out for marketing material informing you of when new services are available for you to upgrade to.
The checker indicates a service is available but not all operators are listed. Why is that?
We only provide the names of network providers that have expressly given permission to include their names and web details on our checker. There may be situations where we have operator coverage data but have not yet received the necessary permissions to list the operator names.
I clicked on a link to an operator, but the link was broken or took me to a site that wasn't able to help me identify and contact broadband providers. Why?
As stated in our terms of use, Ofcom takes no responsibility for the content (or existence) of third party sites. These links aim to help you find service providers that can offer broadband to your property, but please use the feedback link to let us know if this is not the case. We will aim to work with providers to address the problem. However, there may be reasons preventing links to work for which are beyond Ofcom's control.