Analysis of Full Fibre Broadband Adoption in the UK by Network Age

The latest edition of the Takeup Tracker by strategic consultancy Eight Advisory offers a comprehensive overview of the UK’s fibre broadband landscape. The report shows that nearly 88% of premises now have access to gigabit-capable networks, with 78% leveraging Fibre-to-the-Premises (FTTP) technology. The study emphasizes the importance of understanding customer take-up rates, which are influenced by factors like pricing, competition, awareness, and customer loyalty.

According to the report, altnets (alternative networks) have seen a gradual increase in market penetration, reaching 20% in March 2025, up from 17% in September 2024. Meanwhile, Openreach’s FTTP adoption rose to 36%, reflecting ongoing efforts despite rapid network expansion. The market share of altnets has also grown slightly, now accounting for 13.4% of retail connections, amid intense competition among major providers like BT, Virgin Media, Sky, TalkTalk, and Vodafone.

The study highlights that network maturity significantly affects take-up rates. Networks older than 24 months can achieve penetration rates of 30-50%, whereas newer networks experience lower adoption, typically between 9-19%. Additionally, overbuilds by incumbents like Openreach reduce altnet success, with an average 6% decline in take-up, although long-term growth continues.

The report also explores the advantages of being an early entrant in the market, which can boost penetration by approximately 2 percentage points. Despite challenges, many altnets are moving towards profitability, though industry consolidation may be necessary for long-term survival.

Overall, the findings underscore the complexities of broadband deployment, highlighting that both network coverage and customer engagement are crucial for achieving national connectivity goals, such as those set by the UK government’s Project Gigabit, aiming for 99% gigabit coverage by 2032.

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