Broadband data and research
Broadband has become an essential service.
Our professional and personal lives have become much more Internet-dependent over the last couple of decades. Our research explores broadband connections, and whether consumers are informed on how best to optimise their experience.
See the broadband speeds hub for information on broadband speeds and performance.
In order to understand the performance of UK fixed-line residential broadband connections, Ofcom commissions research to identify the average download speeds that they deliver, along with a number of other metrics which determine the consumer experience of using these services.
2016
Fixed Broadband advertising of prices report Jan 2016
2015
2014
The performance of fixed-line broadband delivered to UK residential consumers Oct 2014
Fixed-line broadband performance quarterly updates (PDF, 22.2 KB) May 2014
2013
Voluntary Code of Practice on Broadband Speeds - Mystery shopping research Jul 2013
2012
Voluntary Code of Practice on Broadband Speeds: Mystery shopping research May 2012
Fixed broadband switching Feb 2012
UK fixed-line broadband performance November 2011 (PDF, 892.0 KB) Feb 2012
2011
UK Broadband Speeds Research 2010 and related publications May 2011
UK fixed broadband speeds, November/December 2010 Mar 2011
2010
2010 Voluntary Code of Practice: Broadband Speeds (PDF, 54.1 KB) Jul 2010
UK broadband speeds research 2010 Jul 2010
UK broadband speeds, May 2010 (PDF, 1.1 MB) Jul 2010
Older
UK broadband speeds 2009 Jul 2009
UK broadband speeds 2008 Jan 2009
The Communications Market: Broadband 2006 Apr 2007
The Ofcom Internet and Broadband Update Apr 2004
The Ofcom Internet and Broadband Update Apr 2004
Wireless Broadband Updates Apr 2004
In 2013, following the conclusion of the 4G spectrum auction in February 2013, Ofcom stated that it would conduct research into the performance of 3G and 4G networks, with the intention of helping consumers understand the performance benefits of 4G over 3G.
Measuring mobile broadband performance in the UK Nov 2014
Measuring Mobile Broadband in the UK Dec 2010
Attitudes towards mobile broadband Sep 2008
The European Broadband Scorecard is intended to document aspects of fixed and mobile broadband performance across other EU countries for the purpose of measuring and comparing the UK's relative performance. It was proposed by Broadband Delivery UK (BDUK), part of the Department of Digital, Culture, Media & Sport (DCMS), before being taken up by Ofcom.
The work carried out by Dr Pantelis Koutroumpis on behalf of Ofcom suggests that investment in broadband has had significant benefits to the UK economy.
We have published a review of how Ofcom's quality of service rules have affected Openreach's service level performance.