UPD Point Topic Post Goldmine of Data for UK Broadband Speed and Coverage

Telecoms analyst Point Topic has today released a veritable treasure trove of useful information by making their full local authority broadband speeds and coverage database available to non-subscribers, which allows you to compare the quality of internet access in your area with the rest of the United Kingdom.

The immensely useful information covers everything from population data, business premises and LLU availability to average broadband speeds, coverage by specific internet access technologies and predictions about the present and future availability of superfast Next Generation Access (NGA) services, such as BT’s FTTC and FTTP or Virgin Media’s cable platform, to 2017.

The figure of 81% NGA coverage by the end of 2015 would appear to be quite someway below the government’s aim of reaching 90% by the same date, although it’s VERY important to stress that for some reason Point Topic’s figure a) excludes Virgin Media’s cable platform and b) isn’t actually referencing coverage at all.

In fact the % represents the weighted probability of each postcode in an area being in a footprint that delivers FTTx (FTTC/P/B etc.). In any case it’s very difficult to know the real answer to that “coverage” question while so many projects have yet to complete their survey phases.

PointTopic’s Local Authority Broadband Database (MS Excel Format)
Point-Topic-UK-Broadband-Geography-local-authority-scoreboard-2013.xlsx

The data is not really intended for a general summary but suffice to say that some will surely find it to be invaluable. However the analyst did include an interesting map of average broadband throughput speeds around the UK, though it lacks some context.

UPDATE 21st May 2013

Point Topic has corrected their data, specifically noting that their original coverage information for KC was over-stated and that the coverage for Digital Region had been under-stated. It does not affect the overall results above but you can get the new copy below.

http://point-topic.com/free-analysis/uk-local-authority-scorecard/