NE38 broadband and area guide
Ofcom coverage, connection speeds, house prices and local data for 648 postcodes across 4 sectors in Sunderland.
Gigabit
79%
Superfast
93%
Postcodes
648
County Durham in the NE38 region spans 648 postcodes with a mixed broadband picture. Superfast coverage reaches 93.2%, but gigabit drops to 78.5% - revealing pockets where infrastructure investment has been selective.
Broadband speeds in NE38
Share of NE38 premises by the fastest download speed available, averaged across all 648 postcodes in the district.
The speed distribution tells a story of partial ultrafast roll-out across NE38. Gigabit reaches 78.5% of postcodes; ultrafast availability sits at 79.5%. However, 13.8% of postcodes can only reach speeds between 30 and 300 Mbps (a meaningful share), and 5.6% remain below 10 Mbps. This suggests patchy fibre or cable deployment across some parts of the district, with better-served urban clusters and weaker coverage in outlying areas. Below-USO premises are minimal at 0.1%. The imbalance in coverage points to infrastructure investment concentrated in certain routes or population nodes. Where networks have arrived, they're typically gigabit-capable; where they haven't, households are left on older VDSL or partial-fibre technologies.
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
<1%
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
NE38 splits into 4 postcode sectors. Coverage and prices can differ street by street, so open a sector below to find your exact postcode.
| Sector | Postcodes | Superfast | Full fibre | Gigabit |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| NE38 0 | 141 | 96% | TBC | 93% |
| NE38 7 | 216 | 93% | TBC | 80% |
| NE38 8 | 200 | 90% | TBC | 83% |
| NE38 9 | 91 | 97% | TBC | 42% |
All NE38 0 postcodes (141)
All NE38 7 postcodes (216)
All NE38 8 postcodes (200)
All NE38 9 postcodes (91)
Best deals
Compare broadband deals in NE38
Deals are priced per address. Enter your full postcode to see every package available where you live.
Free comparison. Opens our deals partner in a new tab.
Living in Sunderland
For remote workers or households streaming regularly, the split is instructive. Nearly four in five postcodes offer gigabit; the remainder face a drop to 'good enough' broadband. If you're considering a move to County Durham, postcode-level checking is worthwhile.
Remote worker score
54/100
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
NE38 broadband FAQs
Why does County Durham have such varied speeds?
Cable and fibre networks have been installed unevenly. Urban postcodes typically enjoy gigabit; rural areas often qualify only for superfast or standard speeds.
What if my postcode is in the slow 5.6%?
Check your postcode first. If below 10 Mbps, you may qualify for government assistance; contact your local council or Ofcom.
Is gigabit available in County Durham?
Yes, at 78.5% of postcodes. That leaves one in five without gigabit options, so check before committing to a property or service level.
How common is 30-300 Mbps service here?
13.8% of postcodes offer speeds in this range, enough for browsing and video, but marginal for multiple simultaneous users or large downloads.
Neighbouring districts
Check your exact postcode
Every postcode in NE38 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