The UK is lagging behind its European neighbours in terms of fibre-to-the-premises (FTTP) take-up and average broadband speeds, according to a new report by Ookla, a global leader in internet testing and analysis.
The report, which was released on Monday, assessed the progress made by the EU against the bloc’s Digital Decade 2030 strategic objectives. The Digital Decade 2030 is a set of goals and targets for the EU to achieve by 2030 in terms of digital transformation, connectivity, skills, and public services. One of the goals is to ensure that all European households have access to gigabit connectivity and that all populated areas are covered by 5G.
Ookla analysed the median fixed broadband performance and FTTP take-up rates of 27 EU member states and the UK in the third quarter of 2023. The analysis revealed that Romania had the highest median download speed (245.88 Mbps), followed by Sweden (214.65 Mbps) and Denmark (213.64 Mbps). The UK ranked 24th out of 28 countries, with a median download speed of 80.42 Mbps, which was below the EU average of 102.67 Mbps.
The analysis also showed that Lithuania had the highest FTTP take-up rate (86.4%), followed by Latvia (82.6%) and Spain (77.9%). The UK ranked 26th out of 28 countries, with an FTTP take-up rate of 23.8%, which was far below the EU average of 52.5%.
The report quoted Doug Suttles, co-founder and general manager at Ookla, who said that the UK’s low ranking was partly due to its reliance on hybrid fibre-coaxial (HFC) networks, which offer lower speeds and reliability than FTTP networks. Suttles also said that the UK’s FTTP take-up rate was hindered by the lack of competition and availability of FTTP services, as well as the high cost and long installation time.
The report cited a report by Ofcom, the UK’s communications regulator, which stated that only 21% of UK premises had access to FTTP services as of May 2023, compared to 95% for superfast broadband (30 Mbps or more). The report also mentioned that the UK government had pledged to deliver gigabit-capable broadband to at least 85% of UK premises by 2025, but had faced challenges such as funding cuts, regulatory barriers, and skills shortages.
The report highlighted some of the benefits of FTTP networks, such as enabling faster and more reliable online services, supporting remote working and learning, and reducing carbon emissions. The report concluded by stating that the UK had a lot of work to do to catch up with its European peers in terms of FTTP take-up and average broadband speeds, and that it needed to invest more in digital infrastructure and innovation.
The report also provided a table showing the ranking of each country by median download speed and FTTP take-up rate, as well as a link to Ookla’s full report. The table is shown below:
| Country | Median Download Speed (Mbps) | Rank | FTTP Take-up Rate (%) | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Romania | 245.88 | 1 | 56.7 | 6 |
| Sweden | 214.65 | 2 | 66.9 | 4 |
| Denmark | 213.64 | 3 | 40.8 | 12 |
| … | … | … | … | … |
| UK | 80.42 | 24 | 23.8 | 26 |
