Are you looking for a reliable and fast internet connection? If so, you’re in the right place. Today, 86% of all UK households have a broadband connection at home.
In this article, we’ll be taking a look at the most recent UK broadband speed report. We’ll be answering questions about average broadband speed, latency and comparison between urban and rural areas.
Broadband speed and performance improvements in 2023
The data in this blog post was gathered by SamKnows in 2645 households during March 2023, in collaboration with Ofcom as part of the UK Home Broadband Performance study, which was released on 14 September 2023.
The UK’s broadband performance has improved significantly in recent years, as people have upgraded to faster networks. In 2023, the median average download speed was 69.4 Mbit/s, which is 17% faster than the previous year. 93% households have a connection with a minimum download speed of 30 Mbit/s. This means that people in the UK can now stream videos, download music, and play online games without any problems.
Mbit/s is the average download speed in the UK, 2023
Mbit/s is the average upload speed in the UK, 2023
The median average upload speed in the UK is now 18.4 Mbit/s, which is a very significant increase of 73% from 2022 to 2023. This is more than enough bandwidth for most households, even those with multiple people uploading videos to YouTube, making high-quality video calls, or backing up data to the cloud.
In general, a latency of less than 100ms is considered good for most online activities. For some online gaming apps, you may require a latency of less than 50 ms. The median average 24-hour latency values of different broadband technologies in the performance report range from 4.9ms with full fibre to 24.2 ms with ADSL+. This means that even ADSL+ is still suitable for online gaming, although full fibre will provide the best experience.
Comparison of advertised vs actual broadband speed in the UK
In general, the advertised internet broadband speed is the maximum speed that you can expect to get under ideal conditions. However, it is important to remember that the actual speed that you experience may be slower, depending on the factors such as the distance from your home to the central office of the internet service provider (ISP).
The chart below shows the advertised speed and the 24-hour median actual broadband speeds in the UK in 2023. Generally, it can be concluded that ISPs deliver the advertised download speeds.
Broadband speed comparison between urban and rural areas
The broadband internet download speed and upload speed you get can vary depending on where you live. Rural internet speeds are catching up to urban internet speeds as more rural areas are now being connected to faster broadband networks. The average download speed in urban areas was 70.3 Mbit/s, while the average download speed in rural areas was 56 Mbit/s during the 8-10pm peak-time period.
The chart below compares the average broadband speeds in urban and rural areas. Note that during peak times, 8% of households in rural areas had average download speeds below 10 Mbit/s.
The UK broadband provider with best speed and where improvements are needed
The UK has a mixed bag when it comes to broadband speeds. On the one hand, some households have access to the fastest speeds in Europe, thanks to the rollout of full-fibre broadband. 11% of UK households have a broadband connection with at least 300 Mbit/s download speed. On the other hand, there are still many households that are stuck with slow and unreliable connections. Here are some stats of the best and worst UK broadband connections in 2023.
The providers with the highest download and upload speed measured
Provider with the best download speed
Virgin Media’s 1.13 Gbit/s cable package with 1,137 Mbit/s measured
Provider with the best upload speed
Gigaclear’s 300 Mbit/s full-fibre service with 337 Mbit/s measured
Where the UK still needs to improve in terms of broadband performance
%
of lines had an average 24-hour actual download speed of less than 10 Mbit/s which is the minimum download speed required for a modern broadband connection
%
of ADSL2+ connections did not deliver Netflix shows reliably on UHD on the average 24-hour. However, ADSL2+ connections may still satisfy the needs of smaller households.
What can I learn from the UK broadband speed report?
If you are looking for a fast and reliable broadband connection, there are a few things you should keep in mind. First, you should choose a package that offers a minimum download speed of 30 Mbit/s. Second, you should consider switching to a cable or full-fibre connection. These technologies offer much faster and reliable speeds and fewer disconnections than ADSL2+.
Most providers offer stable broadband speed connections for most of your internet needs. Switching providers for performance reasons is mostly not necessary, but often the price is the determining factor. Make your life easier, stay with your current broadband provider and get the best price even as an existing customer for your preferred internet package. Try the Brevius app to get a fair deal.
Conclusion
The UK’s broadband performance has again improved significantly from 2022 to 2023. The average download speed in the UK is now 69.4 Mbit/s, and the average upload speed is 18.4 Mbit/s. Rural internet speeds are catching up to urban internet speeds but are still lagging behind, especially for ADSL+.
Consider switching to a cable or full-fibre connection if you are still on ADSL+ and choose a package that offers a minimum download speed of 30 Mbit/s. If you want to make sure you get a good price on your package without any additional effort, consider the Brevius for broadband offer.
