KW17 broadband and area guide
Ofcom coverage, connection speeds, house prices and local data for 230 postcodes across 1 sector in Orkney Islands.
Full fibre
0%
Gigabit
34%
Superfast
75%
Postcodes
230
KW17 serves 230 postcodes in Orkney Islands with moderate connectivity. Gigabit reaches one in three addresses, and over one in eight fall below 10 Mbps.
Broadband speeds in KW17
Share of KW17 premises by the fastest download speed available, averaged across all 230 postcodes in the district.
A third of postcodes (33.9%) have gigabit availability, better than the most remote island codes but below mainland cores. Superfast covers 74.5% of the 230 postcodes, leaving significant gaps in coverage. Just over 40% (40.6%) fall in the 30 to 300 Mbps range, a substantial mid-tier cohort. Below-10Mbps reaches 13.1%, the highest proportion across the Orkney postcodes in this batch, and 2.3% sit below Universal Service Obligation thresholds. The island profile is mixed: some geographic pockets have received gigabit-capable infrastructure while others remain on older networks. The pronounced below-10Mbps fraction suggests outlying or difficult-to-serve properties that have not benefited from recent upgrades. This postcode ranks between the well-served Orkney centre and the more constrained periphery, reflecting uneven but developing island infrastructure.
Source: Ofcom Connected Nations. Percentages are district-wide averages of postcode-level availability, so rows may not sum to exactly 100%.
Connectivity in detail
Below 10 Mbps USO
2%
Premises unable to get the 10 Mbps universal service minimum
Fixed wireless
0%
Premises that can use a fixed wireless access service
Broadband by sector
KW17 splits into 1 postcode sector. Coverage and prices can differ street by street, so open a sector below to find your exact postcode.
| Sector | Postcodes | Superfast | Full fibre | Gigabit |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| KW17 2 | 230 | 75% | 0% | 34% |
All KW17 2 postcodes (230)
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Living in Orkney Islands
KW17 occupies a middle ground in Orkney. Households in 34% of postcodes will enjoy gigabit; most others have workable superfast speeds. The one in eight below 10 Mbps represents a genuine problem for remote work or modern digital life.
Remote worker score
48/100
Connectivity and amenities for home working
Family score
50/100
Schools, safety and family amenities
Value score
50/100
What you get for the local price level
KW17 broadband FAQs
How does connectivity vary across Orkney postcodes?
Island postcodes show distinct patterns. Larger clusters tend toward better superfast penetration and higher gigabit availability; more remote areas have more pronounced below-10Mbps tails.
Why do Orkney postcodes show such variety?
Island infrastructure deploys in clusters; some areas got gigabit-capable networks, others rely on older systems. Geography and settlement patterns affect rollout economics.
What percentage of KW17 is below USO minimum?
2.3% of postcodes fall below the Universal Service Obligation; 13.1% experience below-10Mbps speeds but may meet the 10 Mbps guarantee technically.
Is gigabit worth planning for in KW17?
Only if you plan bandwidth-intensive work. Most household activities run fine on superfast or the 30 to 300 Mbps tier.
Neighbouring districts
Check your exact postcode
Every postcode in KW17 has its own page with broadband speeds, house prices, school ratings and crime stats. You can also compare providers for your address.
Data sources: Broadband data from Ofcom Connected Nations 2025 · House prices from HM Land Registry · Crime from Police.uk · See all data sources