Alex Tofts is senior PR and marketing executive at UK broadband comparison website Broadband Genie
Our new study has discovered the slowest and fastest streets for broadband in the UK.
In a shock surprise, Morriston Close in Watford street was named the UK’s slowest street, with an average speed of 0.6Mb. To give you an idea what that feels like, it doesn’t meet any of the popular streaming services minimum requirements and would take almost two days to download ‘Avengers: Endgame’.
In contrast, the fastest street can be found in Northampton. Meadway boasts average download speeds of 896.3Mb, that’s 1,494 times faster than Morriston Close.
What is a good broadband speed?
This really depends on what you need your internet for. Broadband Genie recommends an entry-level fibre broadband contract for one person (around 30Mb). For larger households, here is a rough estimate of what to aim for when shopping:
- Up to 3 people: 30 – 50Mb
- Up to 5 people: 50 – 100Mb
- 5+ people: 100Mb
If anyone in your household has particularly hefty digital demands, such as gaming or uploading large data files, you may want to consider something a bit faster.
What broadband speed can I get?
A quick search on a trusted broadband address checker will show you the providers and speeds available at your home.
The average download speed in the UK is 122.2Mb and superfast broadband (minimum of 30Mb) is available to 97% of the nation. Full fibre broadband, which can deliver speeds of anything between 100Mb to 1Gb+ (which is very fast) is available to 57% of the nation. These speeds tend to drop in rural areas.
Broadband Genie highlights that all 10 of the slowest streets have access to at least superfast broadband.
It’s important to note that these are real speed tests. Poor broadband can be caused by various factors; such as the number of devices connected to the network or your router position. If your internet speed is falling short of what your provider promised, and if you can’t troubleshoot the issue yourself, contact your provider. There could be an issue with the network, which is sometimes easily fixed.
Does slow broadband impact a home’s value?
These days, speedy broadband is expected in most areas, and it’s unlikely when looking at homes in urban locations, you won’t have access to a decent fixed-line connection from at least one provider.
As our digital demands continue to grow and as access to fast broadband is a given, it might not boost a home’s value, but it can certainly dent it.
If you’re unlucky to live on a street with slow internet, homes with no access to fast broadband will sell for an average £38,902 less than the market value. That’s according to satellite operator, Eutelsat.
When it comes to selling, slow broadband can completely switch off potential buyers. The same research found 39% would not consider homes with slow internet, and over half would shun an entire area if it had sub-par internet connectivity.
Before putting down a deposit or an offer on a new home, movers should always take a few minutes to have a look at the broadband options available in the area.
What can I do If I have slow internet?
If you think your internet connection is running slow, the first thing you should do is to run a speed test. You can then compare the results to what your advertised broadband speed.
Slow broadband can be caused by all kinds of things. Here are some quick fixes to help slow broadband.
- Check with your provider there are no faults on the line. Most have service checkers, so you don’t even have to get in touch with customer support.
- Give your router a reset. Yes, the classic ‘switch it off and on again’. It’s a cliché for a reason.
- Unconnect any non-essential tech to free up bandwidth.
- Login to your router and check for updates. When you’re in here, you can make sure no unwelcome guests have sneaked in and are hogging your broadband.
- Fix weak Wi-Fi signals. Try to position your router as close as you can to the middle of your home, away from walls and other appliances. If you can’t reposition your router, you can invest in a Wi-Fi booster.
- Switch from the 2.4GHz frequency to the faster 5GHz
The majority of widely available providers are signed up to Ofcom’s Broadband Speeds Code of Practice. If you can’t troubleshoot the issue yourself and your provider can’t fix the issue within 30 days, you can play your ‘get out of jail’ card and leave your provider, no questions asked.