Broadband speeds

Broadband speed is more important than ever for ease of surfing, quick downloads and efficient use of websites such as YouTube and Facebook. Below we list all the resources you need to get the best broadband speed possible!

Broadband speed options - get faster broadband!

Compare Top10 broadband deals by speed, click here: broadband packages

Compare the best broadband deals available in your area, click here: postcode checker

Test the speed of your broadband connection, click here: broadband speed test

Compare Top10 mobile broadband deals by speed, click here: mobile broadband deals

How fast is your current connection?

In order to take some of the confusion out of broadband speed, we have just re-launched our new, state-of-the-art broadband speed test, where you can check your own broadband speed and compare it to other people on your street! Start your speed test here: broadband speed test

Note

In order to get an accurate reading, you should close all other programs, webpages and games before starting the speed test.

Speed tests are useful as many customers don't know what speed they are currently experiencing and therefore don't know what 8Mb or indeed 50Mb would mean in practical terms.

Just want fast broadband? You can simply compare fast broadband deals

Can you speed up your broadband without switching provider?

Yes. Assuming your computer settings are already optimised and your computer is working as efficiently as possible, broadband speed software from OnSpeed can speed up or “optimise” your broadband connection.

More info:

More informaton about broadband speed

The speed of broadband that you can get depends mainly on where you live:

• In a cable or ADSL area
• Rural or urban area, broadband is consistently faster in urban areas
• The distance of your house from the telephone exchange, the closer you are the faster your connection

To see an accurate approximation for your home, try our postcode checker, which scans your connection, analyses you broadband exchange and works out what broadband speeds you can get. In general, with ADSl broadband (excluding Virgin Media fibre optic / cable broadband and mobiel broadband via dongle / 3G), the closer you are to your BT exchange, the faster your broadband will be. UK broadband speeds are currently from 512k to 50Mb.

We also rank fast broadband packages for your ease.

Why is my connection slower in the evenings?

ADSL broadband is a shared service. Therefore the more people who are using it, the slower it will be. The amount of people using a broadband connection in an area affects the “contention ratio” which is the ratio of users to the BT area’s exchange and the coping capacity the exchange has for those connections. Most home users use their computers in the evening, so connections tend to be a lot slower at these peak hours (i.e. 7 to 10pm). The best times to use broadband are between 12am and 8am.

Cable broadband speed does not change during the day, making it a more consistent alternative.