How the broadband score works
The broadband score reflects how many homes in a postcode can order superfast, ultrafast and gigabit broadband.
- Source
- Ofcom Connected Nations
- Measured for
- Postcode
- Covers
- United Kingdom
- Scale
- 10–100, higher is better
How it’s worked out
Look up the postcode
From Ofcom’s Connected Nations postcode data we take the share of premises that can get superfast (30 Mbit/s or more), ultrafast (300 Mbit/s or more) and gigabit-capable broadband.
Combine them into one index
The index is the average of those three percentages, so a postcode where every home can get gigabit broadband scores 100 and one with only superfast scores about 33.
Rank it nationally
We compare the index with neighbourhoods across the UK and turn the rank into a score from 10 to 100.
What each part is worth
| Factor | Share of the index |
|---|---|
| Premises able to get superfast (30 Mbit/s+) | 1 in 3 |
| Premises able to get ultrafast (300 Mbit/s+) | 1 in 3 |
| Premises able to get gigabit-capable broadband | 1 in 3 |
If Ofcom has no figure for one of these, it’s left out and the others are averaged. Mobile coverage is shown separately and doesn’t affect the score.
Reading the score
- 10
- 20
- 30
- 40
- 50
- 60
- 70
- 80
- 90
- 100
Reports also show the fastest speed band any home in the postcode can get, using Ofcom’s lines:
| Standard | Under 30 Mbit/s |
|---|---|
| Superfast | 30 Mbit/s or more |
| Ultrafast | 300 Mbit/s or more |
| Gigabit-capable | 1,000 Mbit/s |
What it can’t tell you
- It describes the postcode as a whole. Not every home may be able to get the fastest service, and your speed depends on the package you buy and your home wiring.
- Ofcom publishes mobile coverage for whole council areas, not single postcodes, so the mobile figures in reports cover the local authority. Use Ofcom’s coverage checker for a specific address.
- Ofcom updates this data a few times a year. Reports show the month of the data they use.