More than 7,000 homes in Stevenage have lost access to Openreach’s full fibre broadband service after the company quietly withdrew “Ready for Service” status from properties across the Hertfordshire town.
Analysis of coverage data shows Openreach’s full fibre availability in Stevenage plummeted by ten percentage points at the start of 2026, dropping from 78% to 68% of premises in a matter of weeks.
“I was told my property was ready for fibre upgrade last year, but when I tried to book an installation this month, they said it’s no longer available,” said Sarah Mitchell, a resident of Fairlands Valley. “No explanation, just that the service had been withdrawn.”
Mass Withdrawal Affects New Estates
The withdrawal particularly impacts newer housing developments across the town. Properties in areas including Pin Green, Bedwell, and parts of the Old Town have seen their Ready for Service status revoked without prior notification to residents.
Independent broadband analysts conducted systematic checks across 15,000 Stevenage addresses over two days, comparing current availability against records from December 2025.
“We’re seeing entire streets that were flagged as fibre-ready suddenly showing as unavailable,” explained telecommunications consultant David Price. “This represents roughly 7,200 properties that have lost their upgrade path.”
The pattern suggests Openreach has reassessed the commercial viability of serving certain areas, particularly where the cost of connecting individual properties exceeds projected revenue.
Residents Face Broadband Limbo
Many affected households had been planning upgrades from slower ADSL connections, expecting gigabit speeds that full fibre promises to deliver.
James Richardson, who lives on Gresley Way, discovered the change when trying to switch from his current 12Mbps copper line service. “The Openreach website checker showed full fibre available for months. Now it just says ‘coming soon’ with no timeline.”
The withdrawal leaves these properties dependent on ageing copper infrastructure or alternative providers with limited coverage in the area.
Virgin Media covers approximately 45% of Stevenage with its cable network, while smaller operators like Community Fibre and Hyperoptic serve select apartment blocks and business parks.
Technical Challenges Behind Rollback
Industry sources suggest the withdrawal stems from technical complications discovered during detailed engineering surveys. Properties initially assessed as straightforward connections have proven more complex and costly to serve.
“Openreach likely found issues with duct access, underground obstructions, or wayleave problems that weren’t apparent during initial planning,” said network infrastructure specialist Amanda Thompson.
The company’s fibre rollout targets areas where installation costs remain below £700 per premises. Properties exceeding this threshold typically lose priority status unless residents agree to pay connection charges.
Lisa Chen, whose Shephall Green home lost Ready for Service status, received no direct communication about the change. “I only discovered it when my neighbour mentioned their upgrade appointment was cancelled.”
Council Pressure Mounts
Stevenage Borough Council has demanded explanations from Openreach executives following complaints from dozens of constituents affected by the withdrawal.
Councillor Martin Brooks, portfolio holder for digital inclusion, said the authority is “deeply concerned” about the retrograde step. “We’ve been working with Openreach for three years to improve connectivity across the borough. This feels like a significant backward move.”
The council invested £2.3 million in digital infrastructure improvements over the past two years, including upgrading traffic management systems and installing smart parking meters that rely on high-speed connections.
National Pattern Emerges
Similar coverage reductions have appeared in other towns across England, suggesting Openreach is conducting a nationwide reassessment of its fibre rollout commitments.
Preliminary data indicates comparable drops in Basildon, Crawley, and parts of Milton Keynes, though detailed analysis remains ongoing.
The pattern raises questions about Openreach’s ability to meet government targets for 85% full fibre coverage by 2025, a deadline that has already passed with national coverage standing at approximately 65%.
Communications regulator Ofcom has not commented on the Stevenage situation but previously warned that “Ready for Service” designations should only be applied to properties genuinely ready for connection within reasonable timeframes.
Alternative Options Limited
Affected residents face limited immediate alternatives for upgrading their broadband speeds. G.fast technology, which boosts copper line performance, remains unavailable in most affected areas.
Mobile broadband offers another route, but 5G coverage across Stevenage remains patchy, with fastest speeds concentrated around the town centre and main transport links.
Property developer Marcus Webb, whose new homes in Chells were among those affected, expressed frustration at the timing. “We marketed these properties as fibre-ready. Now buyers are asking difficult questions we can’t answer.”
Looking Ahead
Openreach has not provided a timeline for when withdrawn areas might regain Ready for Service status, leaving thousands of households in broadband limbo.
The company continues expanding its fibre network across other parts of Hertfordshire, with nearby Welwyn Garden City achieving 89% coverage and Hitchin reaching 92% in recent months.
Local digital inclusion groups are now preparing to lobby government ministers about the coverage gap, arguing that withdrawn areas risk becoming broadband blackspots in an increasingly connected economy.
