UK Broadband Usage Surges 10.5% in Record-Breaking 2024 

Broadband traffic hits all-time high in 2024 

Openreach’s latest annual data shows UK broadband usage rose by 10.5% in 2024, with over 103,590 Petabytes (PB) of data consumed – the highest ever recorded. 

December topped the charts as the busiest month, with streaming, gaming, and Black Friday deals all contributing to data surges. 

What drove the surge in broadband demand?

Popular online events and seasonal trends were behind the highest peaks: 

• 1 Dec (Black Friday weekend) – busiest day: 405 PB of data
• 26 Dec (Boxing Day football + new consoles) – 367 PB 
• 24 Nov – 355 PB 
• Evenings between 8–10pm remain the peak usage window 

This usage reflects growing reliance on digital entertainment, remote working, and smart home devices. 

Full Fibre demand growing fast

Openreach is responding to demand by building its Full Fibre network faster and further than any other UK provider, connecting:

• 78,000 new premises per week 
• Over 17 million homes and businesses reached 
• 26% year-on-year increase in orders 

Full Fibre enables smooth streaming, gaming, and smart connectivity across multiple devices. 

You can check your eligibility for an upgrade using the Openreach fibre checker. 

Why it matters for UK connectivity

Clive Selley, CEO of Openreach, said: 

“Fast, reliable connectivity is essential for the UK. This data shows how embedded broadband is in people’s lives – but millions could still benefit from faster and more affordable upgrades.” 

Openreach’s network powers over 300 broadband providers, including BT, Sky, TalkTalk, Vodafone, and Zen. 

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