Broadband & Mobile Availability for Dorset
Official Broadband and Mobile Statistics for 2024
At 67.2%, Ultrafast (Full Fibre) coverage is almost consistent with the 70% national benchmark, with a small gap remaining for Dorset to close. 5G availability remains limited at 45.43%, representing a shortfall compared to the 62% national figure (Sep 2025).
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Broadband Network Coverage for Dorset
| Broadband Type | Availability | Avg Download Speed | Avg Upload Speed |
|---|---|---|---|
Ultrafast (Above 300 Mbit/s) | 67.2% | 978 Mbps | 312 Mbps |
Superfast (Below 100 Mbit/s) | 29.3% | 60 Mbps | 14.6 Mbps |
Standard (Below 30 Mbit/s) | 3.3% | 19 Mbps | 2.3 Mbps |
Below USO (Below 10 Mbit/s) | 0.8% | 6.2 Mbps | 1.2 Mbps |
Source: Ofcom Connected Nations data, (July 2024). Some data may be overlapping or lacking accuracy
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Mobile Network Coverage & Non-Spots
Future-Ready Signal
16.6% below UK average
This shows the percentage of land area covered by at least one 5G network. The score of 45.43% is significantly below the national average (62%), indicating limited 5G investment to date.
Reliable 4G Coverage
5.9% below UK average
This critical score shows the percentage of Dorset's land area where all four major networks provide a dependable 4G signal. At 90.07%, there are notable mobile ‘not-spot‘ coverage gaps.
Basic 3G Safety Net
83.8% below UK average
This indicates the reliability of the basic signal across the entire region (as of July 2024). At 15.26%, the safety net for basic calls shows some gaps.
- 3G is being phased out by most operators, making its coverage minimal and its use declining. Presence seems to be limited in rural areas.
- Coverage varies significantly, with rural areas having much lower 4G and 5G availability than urban areas.
- The percentage of 5G connections is growing rapidly, while the percentage of 4G connections is decreasing and overtaken more often.