How to Check Broadband Availability at Your Address (2026)

To check broadband availability at your address, enter your postcode into an availability checker from BT, Openreach or a comparison site. Results show which providers serve your area, available speeds and whether FTTP full fibre is connected. With FTTP now covering 82% of UK premises, most addresses have multiple fibre options.

Using a Postcode Checker

The fastest way to find broadband options at your address is a postcode availability checker. BT offers the most widely used checker covering all Openreach-based providers, while Virgin Media has a separate tool for its cable network. Openreach's own checker at openreach.com shows whether your address has FTTP full fibre, FTTC part-fibre or ADSL only. As of March 2026, Openreach FTTP reaches 82% of UK premises with a target of 25 million by December 2026. Alternative network providers like Hyperoptic and Community Fibre have their own checkers for building-specific coverage. When using any checker, enter your full postcode and select your exact address from the dropdown - coverage can vary between neighbouring houses on the same street, particularly in areas where fibre rollout is still in progress.

What the Results Mean

Availability results typically show connection type, estimated download speed and upload speed. FTTP (full fibre) delivers 100 Mbps to 1,000 Mbps with low latency of 5-15 ms. FTTC (part fibre) maxes out at 36-80 Mbps depending on your distance from the street cabinet. ADSL runs at 10-11 Mbps and is being phased out before the PSTN switch-off in January 2027. Virgin Media cable shows separately with speeds up to 1,130 Mbps on Gig1. If results show multiple technologies, FTTP is almost always the best choice for speed, reliability and future-proofing. Estimated speeds shown by BT and Sky use Ofcom-mandated median averages from Key Facts documents, so real-world performance should match closely for most households during peak hours between 8 pm and 10 pm.

Checking for Full Fibre Availability

Full fibre availability varies significantly by region. Urban areas like London, Manchester and Birmingham have the highest FTTP coverage thanks to Openreach plus alternative networks including Community Fibre, Hyperoptic and G.Network. Rural areas increasingly benefit from providers like Gigaclear, Wessex Internet and Voneus building dedicated village-by-village networks. The government's Project Gigabit programme is funding connections to the hardest-to-reach 20% of premises. If your postcode checker shows no FTTP, check again every three months - Openreach is connecting around 50,000 new premises per week. You can also register interest with Openreach to be notified when fibre reaches your area. Sky and Vodafone both resell Openreach FTTP, so availability on one usually means availability across all Openreach-based providers.

What If No Good Broadband Is Available?

If your address shows only ADSL or slow FTTC, you have several alternatives. 4G and 5G home broadband from EE and Vodafone can deliver 30-300 Mbps without a fixed line, though speeds depend on signal strength and mast distance. Starlink satellite broadband covers all UK addresses with 50-200 Mbps but costs around �75/month plus a �449 dish. Under the Broadband Universal Service Obligation, BT and KCOM must provide at least 10 Mbps download and 1 Mbps upload to any UK address on request, with installation costs capped at �3,400. Fixed wireless providers serve some rural areas with speeds up to 100 Mbps using local masts. Community broadband schemes and voucher programmes under Project Gigabit can also help fund fibre installation for underserved communities.

Compare Broadband Deals at Your Address

Enter your postcode to see which providers and speeds are available at your home. Compare deals, speeds and prices to find the best broadband for your address.

Frequently Asked Questions

How do I check what broadband I can get?

Enter your postcode into an availability checker from BT, Virgin Media or a comparison site. Results show connection types, estimated speeds and available providers. Check multiple tools as some alt-net providers only appear on their own checkers.

Why does broadband availability vary by address?

Availability depends on network infrastructure at your specific address. FTTP requires a fibre cable to your property, FTTC depends on cabinet distance, and Virgin Media cable has its own separate network. Even neighbours may have different options depending on rollout timing.

Can I get full fibre broadband?

FTTP full fibre now covers 82% of UK premises as of March 2026. Enter your postcode into the Openreach checker to see if your address is connected. If not, register interest to be notified when rollout reaches your street.

What speed can I get at my address?

Speeds depend on your connection type. FTTP delivers 100-1,000 Mbps, FTTC offers 36-80 Mbps, and ADSL provides around 10 Mbps. Use a postcode checker to see estimated speeds for your specific address.

Related Guides

What Is FTTP Broadband? � Full Fibre vs Part Fibre � Broadband Speeds Explained � Types of Broadband UK

Methodology & Sources

Information in this guide is sourced from Ofcom market reports, Openreach coverage data, ISPreview.co.uk, provider websites and independent broadband research from Point Topic and Thinkbroadband. Prices and availability are checked monthly. Speed data reflects advertised average speeds from provider Key Facts documents.