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Greater Manchester is one of the UK’s most connected city regions, with expanding full fibre broadband coverage across Manchester itself and its ten surrounding boroughs. From Stockport to Salford, and from Bolton to Wigan, ultrafast connections are becoming the norm for homes and businesses.

In this guide, we will look at the current state of broadband coverage in Greater Manchester, highlight how full fibre is rolling out, and explain how you can check availability at your postcode.

Full Fibre Broadband in Manchester City

Manchester city centre and its inner suburbs are among the best-connected parts of Greater Manchester, thanks to aggressive full-fibre rollouts by alternative network (altnet) providers. Two key players leading the charge here are our trusted partners, Freedom Fibre and CityFibre.

Freedom Fibre

Freedom Fibre is one of the key providers driving full fibre broadband expansion across Greater Manchester. The company is focused on delivering gigabit-capable Fibre-to-the-Premises (FTTP) to communities that have historically been underserved by larger networks.

According to ISPreview’s coverage map, Freedom Fibre is rolling out full fibre to new builds in Irlam and Cadishead as part of its wider Greater Manchester deployment. This expansion is part of their mission to “take full fibre off the beaten track” and ensure smaller towns are not left behind.

In 2023, ISPreview reported that Freedom Fibre had extended its network into Walkden and Atherton, further boosting broadband availability for thousands of homes. These builds are helping to close the digital divide, offering residents in these areas access to ultrafast, reliable connections that rival larger city networks.

CityFibre

CityFibre is another major player shaping broadband coverage in Greater Manchester, with one of the UK’s largest alternative full fibre networks. The provider is building a nationwide infrastructure designed to rival Openreach, bringing gigabit-capable connections to millions of homes and businesses.

According to CityFibre’s rollout updates, the company has already passed over 4 million premises nationwide and is on track to reach 8 million homes and businesses. This expansion includes significant investment in Greater Manchester, where CityFibre is delivering ultrafast broadband to both city centre residents and suburban areas.

In 2023, CityFibre also secured £2.3 billion in new financing to accelerate its full fibre deployment across the UK, including Manchester and surrounding boroughs (ThinkBroadband report). As part of the government’s Project Gigabit, CityFibre is also targeting underserved communities, ensuring that homes across Greater Manchester benefit from reliable, future-proof connections (Telecoms Tech News).

By investing at scale, CityFibre is giving Greater Manchester residents more choice, more competition, and access to broadband speeds that support everything from smart homes to high-bandwidth business use.

Full Fibre Broadband Coverage by Borough in Greater Manchester

According to ThinkBroadband’s October 2025 data, Greater Manchester now boasts over 86% full fibre availability, placing it well ahead of many other regions.

Greater Manchester is divided into ten boroughs, and each is at a different stage of fibre rollout. Here is a snapshot of where things stand, and which network providers (including Freedom Fibre and CityFibre) are active locally:

Fibre in Bolton

Full-fibre deployment in Bolton has accelerated in recent years, with major builds now delivering gigabit-capable FTTP to many urban zones. CityFibre and Openreach are active here, pushing fibre deeper into suburbs and connecting housing estates. Some outlying wards still depend on FTTC, but the gap is narrowing.

Fibre in Bury

In Bury, fibre is growing around the town centre and its major suburbs. Both CityFibre and local altnets are targeting high-demand corridors. There remain pockets in northern fringes where full fibre isn’t yet live, making Bury a prime candidate for the next phases of rollout.

Fibre in Oldham

Oldham is seeing continued investment in fibre infrastructure. CityFibre has begun coverage of denser neighbourhoods, while Freedom Fibre is exploring expansion options on the fringe. Homes nearer to town centres are more likely to already have full fibre, while more rural hamlets may still be waiting for the rollout.

Fibre in Rochdale

Rochdale’s fibre coverage is improving steadily. The urban centres (e.g. Rochdale, Heywood) have decent fibre access from CityFibre and Openreach, while more remote edges are still pending. Providers are prioritising denser streets first before expanding outward.

Fibre in Salford

Salford is one of the most connected boroughs in Greater Manchester, with MediaCityUK acting as a hub for ultrafast digital infrastructure. Alongside strong coverage from Openreach and CityFibre, Freedom Fibre has committed £8 million of investment to expand full fibre broadband into Walkden, boosting availability for thousands of local homes and businesses.

Fibre in Stockport

Stockport benefits from high fibre coverage, particularly where CityFibre and Openreach builds overlap. Many suburban areas (e.g. Bramhall, Cheadle) already enjoy full-fibre access, though some peripheral wards are still in build-out stages.

Fibre in Tameside

Tameside has a strong momentum in fibre rollout. CityFibre, along with alternative networks, are aggressively expanding in local towns like Ashton-under-Lyne and Hyde. Many residential zones already see gigabit-level speeds, with further expansion planned.

Fibre in Trafford

Trafford, especially areas like Altrincham, Sale, and Stretford, is well served by fibre networks. CityFibre and Openreach have deep coverage here. Some pockets (especially in less dense outskirts) are still being connected.

Fibre in Wigan

Wigan is in active build phase. Urban centres are beginning to get full fibre, often thanks to CityFibre and local altnets partnering in the area. Rural and semi-rural zones still face slower rollouts, but progress is steady.

Manchester (city)

As the core of Greater Manchester, Manchester city itself has one of the strongest fibre footprints. Many inner-city and suburban districts already have multiple full-fibre options (CityFibre, Openreach, altnets).

Why Full Fibre Matters in Greater Manchester

  • Faster speeds: Essential for streaming, remote work, and large downloads, giving households the bandwidth they need for everyday life.
  • Low latency: Perfect for video calls and online gaming, ensuring smooth, lag-free connections when it matters most.
  • Future-proofing: Designed to handle growing demand from smart homes, heavy streaming, and the upcoming PSTN switch-off in 2027, which will see copper phone lines retired in favour of full fibre.
  • Reliability: Much less prone to interference than copper wiring, providing a stable connection across all your devices.

Learn more in our guide: What is Full Fibre Broadband?

How to Check Broadband in Your Area

FAQs: Broadband in Greater Manchester

How good is broadband coverage in Manchester?

Manchester boasts some of the best broadband coverage in the UK, with widespread access to ultrafast and gigabit-capable full fibre. You can track how coverage is expanding on ThinkBroadband’s Manchester coverage map. Use our postcode checker to see if your street is connected.

Can I get full fibre broadband in Greater Manchester?

Yes, over three quarters of properties in Greater Manchester already have access to full fibre broadband, with coverage expanding every month. You can confirm availability at your exact address using our Full Fibre Broadband Greater Manchester checker.

What if full fibre isn’t available at my home yet?

If full fibre hasn’t reached your home yet, you may still be able to get fast FTTC broadband in the meantime. Rollout is expanding quickly across Greater Manchester, so it is worth checking regularly. Simply enter your details into our Full Fibre Broadband Availability Checker to see current availability and sign up for updates when your area goes live.

Is broadband faster in Manchester than the UK average?

Yes, Greater Manchester’s full fibre availability is higher than the national average, meaning faster, more reliable connections for most households. Find out what speeds you can get at your address using our Greater Manchester broadband checker.

Greater Manchester Broadband Overview

Greater Manchester is leading the way in broadband coverage, with full fibre transforming how residents connect, work, and play online.

Curious about speeds in your area? Check your postcode in Greater Manchester today.