Latest Scottish broadband and mobile coverage revealed Add to Your Pages
20 December 2019
Number of homes with access to superfast broadband increased by 89,000 since last year
Full-fibre broadband now available to around 200,000 homes in Scotland
Some rural areas still behind towns and cities for broadband and mobile coverage
More people can get faster broadband and a good mobile signal than last year, but some rural areas are still behind towns and cities for coverage new data from Ofcom shows.
Ofcom's annual Connected Nations report analyses the availability of broadband and mobile services in Scotland and across the UK nations. This year's report highlights further progress from industry in rolling out their networks withavailability of full-fibre more than doubling in Scotland
But the report also reveals more work is needed to improve services in rural areas, where some customers experience slower speeds than those in towns and cities.
More homes could upgrade to faster broadbandSuperfast broadband
The vast majority of homes in Scotland (92%) can now access superfast broadband (delivering speeds of at least 30Mbit/s). This has increased by over 89,000 since last year. [1]
However, in areas where superfast broadband is available, just under half (48%) of those properties use superfast or ultrafast (at least 300 Mbit/s) services. So millions more could get faster internet by upgrading today, without paying more. [2]
Ofcom's Boost your Broadband website allows people to easily check which broadband services are available in their area and get advice on how to find the best deal for them.
Faster fibre networks on the riseFull-fibre broadband
Over 200,000 homes and businesses in Scotland (8%) can now get full fibre broadband which offers download speeds, of up to one gigabit per second (1 Gbit/s). This has increased sharply from 3% in 2018, with 150,000 more premises now able to access the latest broadband technology. However, this is still below the UK average of 10%. Ofcom will shortly publish new plans to promote further investment in fibre networks including in rural areas.
Access to decent broadbandWhile superfast coverage continues to improve, there remain premises that do not have access to decent broadband. Including improvements from BT/EE's FWA, around 30,000 homes and businesses in Scotland are unable to get a broadband service that delivers a download speed of at least 10 Mbit/s and an upload speed of at least 1 Mbit. This has fallen significantly from last year due to the increased availability of wireless broadband services.
Mobile coverage improves, but more to doIn today's smartphone society, being able to make calls and get online on the move is crucial to people's personal and working lives.
While most of Scotland (80%) can get coverage from at least one mobile company, there are stark differences in the level of choice available to customers in urban and rural areas, with only 42% of Scotland's land area covered by good 4G reception from all mobile companies.
Around 20% of Scotland does not have good 4G coverage from any mobile company. The areas with limited mobile coverage in Scotland tend to be sparsely populated rural areas where the commercial incentives to provide coverage are lower.
In urban areas, indoor 4G coverage is available from all operators in 87% of premises while in rural areas services are available from all operators in only 49% of premises.
However, rural mobile coverage is set to increase as a result of an industry project announced in October. Mobile operators have worked with the UK Government and Ofcom on a plan to introduce a shared rural network'. The UK Government has indicated that this will see high-quality 4G coverage reach 85% of Scotland by 2026, as mobile companies share their existing masts and invest in new sites. We have provided technical advice on the plans. In addition, the Scottish Government's 4G infill programme (SG4i) is also seeking to address mobile not spots across 49 sites in Scotland.
5G the fifth generation of mobile technology also launched in the UK this year, with all four mobile networks rolling out 5G across a total of 40 UK towns and cities, including Edinburgh and Glasgow.
Glenn Preston, Ofcom's Scotland Director, said: This year we've seen full-fibre broadband grow at its fastest ever rate and some further improvement in mobile coverage in Scotland.
But despite this good progress, there is more to do to bring all parts of the country up to speed particularly in Scotland's rural areas. So we're working with industry and the UK and Scottish Governments to help bring better services to people who need them.
NOTES TO EDITORS
Although we have observed an increase in superfast coverage, this figure is the same as the one quoted last year due to changes in the way that we identify premises, discussed further in our methodology annex.
Superfast broadband packages can start from around £20 per month.
Ofcom will continue to analyse the coverage and performance of wireless broadband providers to ensure their services are delivering the connections people they need.
The right to request a decent connection is under the Universal Service Obligation, which Ofcom is implementing on behalf of the Government. BT will manage requests for connections across the whole of the UK, except for the Hull area, where KCOM will be responsible for delivering decent broadband. Eligibility criteria applies.
Basic mobile coverage supports calls and texts.
Next year, Ofcom plans to release more 5G-ready airwaves through an auction, which will help improve the capacity of mobile networks.
The agreement is subject to final sign-off from the Government.
Data included in Connected Nations is from September 2019.
An interactive version of the Connect
Most recent headlines
11/12/2025
Dalet, a leading provider of cloud-native, end-to-end media workflow solutions, ...
27/11/2025
LONDON Vizrt has added several AI-driven advanced features offering improved speed, intelligence and accuracy in the newest version of its media asset managemen...
27/11/2025
Prime Video has launched AI-powered video season recaps in a beta version for select English-language Prime Original series in the U.S., a move Amazon is callin...
27/11/2025
27 Nov 2025
GSMA brings M360 Eurasia 2026 to Samarkand in partnership with VEON...
27/11/2025
Tahar Rahim and Izuka Hoyle star in the gripping six-part Sky Original from Acad...
27/11/2025
Thursday 27 November 2025
Sky Arts Reveals the Nation's Greatest Basslines - and Queen Reign Supreme
The UK's most iconic basslines have been revealed...
27/11/2025
Back to All News
Stranger Things 5': Prepare for One Last Adventure With O...
27/11/2025
The media industry has a paradox at its core. It's an industry built on light, color and imagination, yet behind the scenes, it's powered by one of the ...
27/11/2025
Rating reflects rating progress across areas including policies, diversity & inclusion, health & safety and Net Zero leadership
Winchester, UK, 27 November 202...
27/11/2025
What are the industry standards for Retail Media? Kathryn explains that certification is based on the IAB Europe Retail Media Measurement Standards and the IAB ...
27/11/2025
World champion boxer and Irish sporting icon Katie Taylor will be in studio this...
27/11/2025
Roblox, one of the world's most popular online gaming platforms for primary ...
27/11/2025
Black Friday is leveling up. Get ready to score one of the biggest deals of the season - 50% off the first three months of a new GeForce NOW Ultimate membership...
26/11/2025
SVG Sit-Down: Prime Video EP Mike Muriano Previews Massive Black Friday Slate Fe...
26/11/2025
A cinematic snow sculpture at the 1995 Sundance Film Festival. Photo by Randall Michelson...
26/11/2025
Book podcasts are booming. On Spotify, you'll find everything from celebrity book clubs to deep dives with bestselling authors. And in markets where audiobo...
26/11/2025
Mumbai, November 24, 2025: In a first-of-its-kind initiative, JioStar, in collab...
26/11/2025
LONDON Factual content producer ITN Productions has launched a new low-latency IP gallery for news bulletins....
26/11/2025
MIAMI TelevisaUnivision said it struck a new multiyear distribution agreement with YouTube TV that includes distribution of TelevisaUnivision's U.S. network...
26/11/2025
OpenDrives, Inc., a leader in software-defined data storage and data services, today announced the launch of the Atlas Corporate Creative Solution. This new Atl...
26/11/2025
Disguise, the industry-leading company powering the world's biggest live performances, is partnering with pioneering LED wall manufacturer DVS to give atten...
26/11/2025
HighField AI, the pioneer in agentic and multimodal automation for broadcast and media production, today announced the expansion of its global channel partner n...
26/11/2025
As high-stakes Premier League fixtures approach and additional premium content launches, with MONO positioning themselves to dominate Thailand's sports stre...
26/11/2025
Hosting a wide variety of events from high-intensity NHL games to complex live music concerts and major entertainment productions, Montreal's 21,000 capacit...
26/11/2025
Vizrt, the leader in live production technology revolutionizing viewer engagement and experience, releases AI-driven advances focusing on speed, intelligence, a...
26/11/2025
ITN Productions, an award-winning factual content producer, today launched a new low-latency IP gallery for news bulletins. Responsible for delivering a leading...
26/11/2025
Ikegami reports ongoing advances throughout 2025 in developing and delivering coordinated television production solutions that maximize quality, versatility and...
26/11/2025
Following the Nov. 21 blackout of NBCUniversal channels on Fubo, the two sides have traded barbs about their inability to reach a new carriage deal....
26/11/2025
LONDON As TV sports rights become increasingly important for both broadcasters and streamers, Ampere Analysis predicts global investment in the genre will surpa...
26/11/2025
LOS ANGELES Vubiquity said it has achieved the Amazon Web Services (AWS) Media & Entertainment Competency as part of the AWS Partner Network (APN). This designa...
26/11/2025
WASHINGTON The Federal Communications Commission's Enforcement Bureau said it has entered into a consent decree with Comcast calling for the cable company t...
26/11/2025
Berklee Named to the Hollywood Reporters Top Music Schools List The publication highlights the college's screen scoring program, industry partnerships, and ...
26/11/2025
Back to All News
Animated Series Love Through a Prism' Casts New Light on ...
26/11/2025
Back to All News
NALIP Unveils Fifth Cohort of Director Incubator
Social Impact
26 November 2025
United States
Link copied to clipboard
The National Assoc...
26/11/2025
YouView Achieves Greenly Gold Certification for SustainabilityNov 26, 2025
YouView is proud to announce a Gold Certification award from Greenly for our perform...
26/11/2025
Back to All News
Netflix Deepens Partnership with Taiwan's 62nd Golden Hors...
25/11/2025
Tracy Bonareri Onchoke, an investigative journalist from Kenya is the winner of the Thomson Foundation's Young Journalist Award 2025.
The 26-year-old-sele...
25/11/2025
SVG All-Stars: Blayke Scheer, Senior Director, Creative Content, YES NetworkThe Indiana alum has turned storytelling into an artform for more than two decadesBy...
25/11/2025
Op-Ed: With FCC's C-Band Auction on the Horizon, Broadcasters Need Proven, C...
25/11/2025
Analysis: Is Baller League really the future of sport? By Callum McCarthy, Editor-at-Large
Tuesday, November 25, 2025 - 10:10
Print This Story
With KSI on...
25/11/2025
Platinum Whitepaper: The Growth of Broadcast in the World of Major Large Scale E...
25/11/2025
SVG Summit 2025 Preview: SVG Women's Sports WorkshopBy Samantha Gabay
Tuesday, November 25, 2025 - 10:27 am
Print This Story | Subscribe
Story Highlig...
25/11/2025
SVG New Sponsor Spotlight: CacheFly's Matt Levine on the Evolving Role of th...
25/11/2025
Peacock's EA SPORTS Madden NFL Cast Levels Up on Thanksgiving With SkyCam as...
25/11/2025
Mathias Broe attends the 2025 Sundance Film Festival premiere of Sauna at Library Center Theatre. (Photo by Michael Hurcomb/Shutterstock for Sundance Film Fes...
25/11/2025
The best playlists, podcasts, and audiobooks bring a little extra magic to your daily routine. With new features and offerings, Spotify Premium delivers even mo...
25/11/2025
Comprehensive new research confirms what we already knew: Australian music fans love the quality, quantity, and access they have to new and local music on strea...
25/11/2025
Applicable Products
Objectives The purpose of this application note is to give a brief background on 5G (NR) wireless communication an explain the reason a SN...
25/11/2025
Nielsen will now measure both Lionsgate's FAST channel MovieSphere and Movie...
Latest Scottish broadband and mobile coverage revealed Add to Your Pages 
