Fibre Broadband in Cambridgeshire: Coverage, Providers and Speeds (2026)

Cambridgeshire and Peterborough achieved 85% gigabit-capable broadband coverage in 2024 — ahead of the national government target for 2025. The region benefits from significant investment under Project Gigabit, with CityFibre awarded a £39 million contract to connect approximately 39,000 additional rural premises. Major providers in the county include BT (Openreach), Sky, Gigaclear, and Hyperoptic in Cambridge city centre, with CityFibre bringing competition to Peterborough and parts of Cambridge.

FTTP Coverage in Cambridgeshire: 2026 Data

The Connecting Cambridgeshire programme — a county-wide digital infrastructure initiative — has delivered superfast broadband access to over 98% of homes and businesses in Cambridgeshire and Peterborough. Gigabit-capable FTTP coverage reached 85% across the combined authority area as of mid-2024, beating the government's 2025 target by over a year. Cambridge city and Peterborough have near-complete FTTP coverage via Openreach infrastructure, enabling ISPs including BT, Sky, EE, TalkTalk, Vodafone, and Plusnet to offer FTTP plans. In Cambridge city, CityFibre is building a competing network enabling Vodafone and other CityFibre ISPs to offer gigabit deals alongside Openreach-based products.

Project Gigabit in Cambridgeshire

The Department for Science, Innovation and Technology selected Cambridgeshire and Peterborough as one of the first areas to receive Project Gigabit investment, with approximately £45 million committed to connect around 45,000 rural premises not covered commercially. CityFibre was awarded the Project Gigabit contract for Cambridgeshire (Lot), targeting approximately 39,070 rural premises with 7,900 already built by December 2025. Gigaclear also serves rural parts of Cambridgeshire, having built FTTP across market towns and villages around the county. Gigaclear's network covers approximately 644,000 premises nationally, with a 23% take-up rate. In Cambridge, Hyperoptic has presence in select apartment buildings, offering gigabit symmetric connections from around £35/month.

Providers Available in Cambridgeshire

The broadband provider landscape in Cambridgeshire reflects both its urban Cambridge core and extensive rural surroundings. In urban areas, residents can typically access: BT Full Fibre 100–900 Mbps from £30.99/month; Sky Full Fibre 100–500 Mbps from £28/month; Vodafone FTTP (via Openreach or CityFibre where available) from £25/month; EE Full Fibre 100–1,000 Mbps from £28/month; TalkTalk Full Fibre 150–900 Mbps from £24.50/month; and Plusnet Full Fibre 145–900 Mbps from £27/month. In rural areas, Gigaclear offers FTTP 100–900 Mbps from £25/month with no data caps. CityFibre-based ISPs including Vodafone and Zen Internet are available in their Cambridgeshire build areas.

Rural Cambridgeshire: Connectivity Challenges and Solutions

Despite Cambridgeshire's strong overall coverage, approximately 15% of rural premises — particularly in the Fens, east Cambridgeshire villages, and the southern fringes near Royston and Saffron Walden — still lack FTTP. The Project Gigabit contract with CityFibre is specifically targeting these not-spots. Average UK broadband speeds reached 223 Mbps in 2025, but some rural Cambridgeshire properties remain on ADSL or FTTC with speeds under 30 Mbps. The 2025–29 Connecting Cambridgeshire strategy aims to eliminate all coverage gaps by 2030. The county's tech industry — centred on the Cambridge Cluster — drives demand for reliable gigabit connectivity for remote workers and small businesses.

Compare Broadband Deals at Your Address

Available providers vary significantly across Cambridgeshire — from multiple FTTP options in Cambridge city to a single altnet in some rural villages. Enter your postcode to see all providers and packages available at your specific address, including Gigaclear and CityFibre where available.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the average broadband speed in Cambridgeshire?

In Cambridge city, average download speeds are broadly in line with the national average of 223 Mbps (Ofcom 2025), driven by strong FTTP take-up. In rural areas, average speeds remain lower — often 50–80 Mbps on FTTC — improving as FTTP rollout under Project Gigabit progresses.

Is Gigaclear available in Cambridge?

Gigaclear focuses on rural areas rather than Cambridge city itself, where Openreach FTTP and CityFibre are the primary infrastructure providers. Gigaclear has significant coverage in rural Cambridgeshire villages and market towns. Use a postcode checker to confirm availability at your address.

When will Project Gigabit reach all of rural Cambridgeshire?

The CityFibre Project Gigabit contract for Cambridgeshire targets completion of the approximately 39,070 contracted premises. As of December 2025, around 7,900 premises had been built. The contract aims for completion by 2027, subject to build programme progress.

Related Guides

Project Gigabit: Will the Government Hit Its Target · Gigaclear Fibre Broadband Deals · Openreach and CityFibre Guide · Rural Fibre Broadband Deals · FTTP: When's the Right Time to Upgrade

Methodology

This guide is based on publicly available data from Ofcom, provider websites, and independent sources including ISPreview.co.uk, Thinkbroadband, Point Topic, and the Cambridgeshire and Peterborough Combined Authority. Pricing, speeds, and availability were verified in April 2026 and are subject to change. CompareFibre is editorially independent — providers do not pay for placement or influence our recommendations.