Broadband News – September 2026

UK broadband stories and updates published in September 2026.

UK broadband newsroom

Broadband news that helps you understand speed, reliability and switching decisions

LinkSpeed focuses on broadband stories that matter to everyday users: full fibre rollout, provider changes, outages, compensation, Wi-Fi performance, ping, jitter and what speed test results actually mean.

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Broadband news from September 2026

Articles are ordered by publication date, with provider and topic labels to make the latest developments easier to scan.

Latest first
Project Gigabit Building Digital UK

Project Gigabit contract builds reach 318,000 UK premises

The latest Project Gigabit contract update shows continued progress on publicly supported gigabit broadband builds across the UK. Building Digital UK figures reported for September put completed coverage under the main Gigabit Infrastructure Subsidy contracts at 318,000 premises, compared with 296,770 in the previous update. The contracted programme currently covers around 846,770 premises in total, putting delivery at roughly 38%. Progress varies considerably between individual regional contracts, with some already complete and others still at an earlier stage. The figures specifically track premises delivered through the main contracted programme, so they should not be treated as the total number of properties reached by every form of Project Gigabit support, which also includes measures such as vouchers and earlier interventions.

Full Fibre FullFibre Ltd

FullFibre opens 2Gbps broadband tier across its UK network

Alternative full-fibre network operator FullFibre Ltd has launched a new 2Gbps wholesale broadband tier across its UK network. The service is available to the company’s internet service provider partners, which can use the faster tier to create new retail packages for residential and business customers. Because FullFibre operates primarily as a wholesale network, availability and retail pricing will depend on which ISP serves a particular address and whether it chooses to offer the new speed. The introduction of a 2Gbps option reflects the broader shift beyond gigabit-only packages as XGS-PON and other higher-capacity fibre technologies become more common in UK networks.

Copper Switch-off Openreach

Openreach names 180 copper switch-off priority exchanges

Openreach has published a league table highlighting 180 telephone exchanges where migration away from the legacy copper-based phone network is a priority. The exchanges are part of the wider move to digital, IP-based services, with Openreach targeting full closure of these sites in January 2027. The table is intended to show progress and encourage providers to move remaining customers onto replacement products. For households and businesses still using services tied to the old network, the change can affect traditional landlines and devices that rely on them, making it important to check how alarms, telecare equipment and other connected systems will operate after migration.

Project Gigabit Building Digital UK

Project Gigabit update shows £2.4bn committed to 1.2m premises

Building Digital UK’s latest Project Gigabit progress update reports that 43 contracts had been signed by May 2026, with about £2.4 billion committed to extend gigabit-capable broadband to roughly 1.2 million premises. The programme targets homes and businesses that are unlikely to receive commercial gigabit coverage without public support. The update also points to continuing work through procurements, vouchers and other interventions as the government seeks to improve connectivity in rural and harder-to-reach areas. For consumers, the figures show the scale of the publicly funded build still under way alongside commercial full-fibre rollouts.

Project Gigabit GoFibre

GoFibre reaches 1,000 Project Gigabit connections in Aberdeenshire

Scottish full-fibre provider GoFibre says it has passed a new milestone in its Project Gigabit deployment across Aberdeenshire, with more than 1,000 premises now connected to its network. The rollout is backed by a £7.4 million government contract intended to bring gigabit-capable broadband to harder-to-reach communities. GoFibre says more than 5,000 premises in the area can currently order service, with the build expected to reach more than 9,000 homes and businesses by spring 2027. The milestone illustrates how publicly supported fibre projects are moving from construction into live customer connections in rural parts of Scotland.

Full Fibre Community Fibre

Community Fibre connects first London home to 8.5Gbps broadband

Community Fibre has connected the first customer to its new 8.5Gbps residential broadband service in London. The XGS-PON package advertises speeds of around 8,200Mbps in both directions, making it a significant step up from the provider’s existing 5Gbps tier. The first installation went live in Beckton, Newham. The headline service is aimed at users who want exceptionally high capacity and is priced at £300 per month on a 24-month contract, so it sits well above mainstream broadband packages. For most households, the practical significance is less about needing 8Gbps today and more about how much headroom modern full-fibre networks can provide as multi-gigabit services become more widely available.

Industry ISPreview

Connected Britain reveals its 2026 UK broadband award winners

The Connected Britain Awards 2026 have recognised companies, projects and teams across the UK broadband and connectivity industry. The awards form part of the annual Connected Britain event and cover achievements across the telecoms sector, including alternative networks and digital infrastructure. For broadband customers, industry awards are not a substitute for checking local availability, price, contract terms and real-world performance, but they can highlight providers and projects attracting recognition within the sector.

Full Fibre ISPreview

Openreach says AI tools are preventing 3,000 fibre cancellations a month

Openreach says new AI-supported tools are helping it prevent around 3,000 UK full fibre broadband order cancellations every month. The systems are being used to identify and resolve problems that might otherwise cause an FTTP installation or order to fail. For consumers, fewer cancelled orders could mean a smoother transition to full fibre, although individual installation experiences will still depend on local network and property conditions. The development comes as Openreach continues its large-scale FTTP rollout across the UK.

Broadband Deals ISPreview

Giffgaff adds up to £300 contract buyout to full fibre plans

Giffgaff has added a contract buyout offer worth up to £300 to its UK full fibre broadband plans. The incentive is designed to help eligible customers switch before their existing broadband contract ends by contributing toward early termination charges. The move comes as giffgaff expands its full fibre service, which has recently reached millions of UK homes via the nexfibre and Virgin Media network footprint. Customers considering the offer should check eligibility, terms and the actual cost of leaving their current provider before switching.

Full Fibre ISPreview

OFNL completes integration of FibreNest full fibre network

Open Fibre Networks Limited has completed the integration of FibreNest’s UK full fibre broadband network. OFNL specialises in fibre infrastructure serving new-build housing developments, where residents may have a different choice of retail broadband providers than on traditional Openreach or cable networks. The integration is an important infrastructure change for affected developments and may influence how services are delivered and which providers are available. Residents should check their address directly when comparing packages because availability varies by development.

Consumer Ofcom

Around 3.5 million UK consumers have used One Touch Switch

Around 3.5 million UK consumers have now used the One Touch Switch process to change broadband provider, according to Ofcom. The system is designed to simplify switching between fixed broadband providers by putting more of the process in the hands of the new provider. Ofcom highlighted switching amid continuing cost-of-living concerns. Customers should still compare total contract cost, expected speeds, setup fees, annual price changes and exit charges before moving to a new broadband deal.

Full Fibre thinkbroadband

Openreach full fibre rollout passes 23.5 million premises

Independent broadband mapping from thinkbroadband shows Openreach’s full fibre footprint has passed 23.5 million UK premises. The latest rollout update indicates the operator is continuing to expand FTTP coverage toward its stated target of 25 million premises by the end of 2026. A premises-passed figure does not necessarily mean every address can order immediately from every provider, so households should still run an address or postcode availability check before choosing a package.

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