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Ultrafast and super reliable
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UK's fastest widely available
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Great value for families
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Award-winning customer service
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Find Your Perfect Deal Type
Browse broadband deals by category to find exactly what you need
Understanding Broadband Types
Choose the right technology for your needs and location
Full Fibre (FTTP)
Direct fibre optic cables to your home for the fastest, most reliable speeds
Key Benefits:
- Fastest speeds
- Most reliable
- Future-proof
Fibre to Cabinet
Fibre to local cabinet, then copper wire to your home
Key Benefits:
- Widely available
- Good speeds
- Affordable
5G/4G Broadband
Wireless internet using mobile networks
Key Benefits:
- Quick setup
- No landline
- Portable
Satellite
Internet via satellite for remote areas
Key Benefits:
- Rural coverage
- No phone line
- Easy install
Broadband by Location
Find the best broadband deals and availability in your area
Major Cities
UK Broadband Market Insights
Data-driven research and analysis to help you make informed decisions
Quick Market Facts
Virgin Media leads in ultrafast speeds with 2Gbps availability
Full fibre now reaches 95% of UK premises
Average broadband speed increased 23% year-on-year
Rural areas see 67% improvement in coverage
What Is The Size Of The Broadband Marketplace In The UK?
The number of suppliers to the UK Broadband Marketplace is much bigger than people generally think, with over 200 different ISPs (Internet Service Providers). However, the vast majority of the UK population would find it hard to name more than 10 different ISPs.
The ISPs providing internet access in the UK can be broadly segmented into 3 different groups.
- Large nationally recognised brands with nationwide coverage. This includes BT Broadband, Virgin Broadband, Sky Broadband, Vodafone Broadband, TalkTalk Broadband, Now Broadband, John Lewis Broadband, etc.
- Medium sized players with very good UK coverage. This includes Zen Internet, Shell Energy Broadband, John Lewis Broadband & others.
- A large number of smaller mainly regional based ISPs who almost exclusively deal in providing FTTP (Fibre To The Premises) broadband service. These suppliers are sometimes called AltNets (Alternative Networks). Examples are Trooli, TrueSpeed, G.Network, etc. Hyperoptic and Gigaclear are examples that have a wider supply area than many other AltNets.
There is a further segmentation of the marketplace between business & consumer ISPs. Some ISPs exclusively service business customers, some only have consumer customers & some have both business & consumer customers. Some ISPs like BT, Virgin and TalkTalk have seperate consumer and business entities.
What Is the Importance of Fast Fibre Broadband?
Fast fibre broadband otherwise known as Fibre To The Premises (FTTP) or Fibre To The Home (FTTH) is the future for high speed broadband connectivity for the vast majority of the UK. The roll out of full fibre broadband is moving at a fast pace.
For example:-
- Openreach are accelerating their roll out of full fibre connectivity, in August 2022 it was available to 8 million UK homes and businesses; this is expected to grow to over 10 million by the end of 2022. If you want to check if FTTP is available at your house from Openreach then you can use their Openreach Fibre Checker.
- CityFibre has an investment program of £4.9bn to provide FTTP to 8 million homes by the end of 2025. This will comprise 285 cities, towns and villages which is nearly one third of the UK population. CityFibre already has 1.7 million premises ready for connection via their ISP partners such as TalkTalk, Zen Internet, Vodafone, Giganet and others.
- County Broadband already supplies FTTP services to over 250 towns and villages across East Anglia.
- Hyperoptic is able to serve 900,000 homes as of August 2022 with the aim of being able to increase that number to 2,000,000 by the end of 2023.
- Gigaclear is aiming to be able to reach at least 500,000 rural UK premises by the end of 2023. As of August 2022 they can reach 300,000.
- Wessex Internet has signed a £5bn Project Gigabit broadband scheme with the UK Government which has the target of being able to reach 7,100 premises in North Dorset.
What is a good latency speed UK?
The average UK latency is between 10 & 20 milliseconds, however with a full fibre broadband connection latencies of sub 3 milliseconds are common, so fibre broadband can be over 10 times more responsive than a non-FTTP connection. Low latency timings are very important for people who play online games.
Which Are the Best Broadband Providers in the UK?
Learn about the key factors to consider when choosing your broadband provider
Best is a very subjective term, especially when applied to UK broadband providers. What might be the best broadband package for one family may not be for another. A number of different factors come into play with the requirements for the family as a whole needing to be taken into account. This is especially true in the age of working from home (WFH) and remote learning. Gaming is another large constituent with very specific requirements and indeed there are internet providers who specialise in gaming such as Leetline Gaming Broadband and Ghost Gaming Broadband.
Latest Broadband Guides
Expert insights and guides to help you navigate the UK broadband market
The UK Broadband Marketplace
Understanding the scale and scope of the UK's broadband industry
700+
Active Providers
£15B
Annual Market Value
28M
UK Households
The UK broadband market is one of Europe's most competitive telecommunications landscapes, with over 700 active providers serving approximately 28 million households. From major national networks like BT,Virgin Media, andSky to innovative local full-fibre providers, consumers have unprecedented choice in their broadband options.
The market has seen significant transformation with the rollout of ultrafast fibre networks, creating opportunities for consumers to access speeds previously unimaginable. Our comprehensivecomparison tools help navigate this complex landscape, ensuring you find the perfect deal for your needs and budget.
Understanding Broadband Speeds
From basic browsing to 4K streaming and gaming
Speed Requirements
Connection Types
Full Fibre (FTTP)
The fastest and most reliable connection, delivering speeds up to 2000Mbps. Perfect for demanding households with multiple users.
Fibre to Cabinet (FTTC)
Standard fibre offering speeds up to 80Mbps. Suitable for most households with moderate internet usage.
Cable Broadband
High-speed alternative available in Virgin Media areas, offering speeds up to 1000Mbps+ with excellent reliability.
Regional Coverage & Availability
Broadband availability varies significantly across the UK
While urban areas enjoy extensive choice with multiple full-fibre providers, rural communities often have limited options. Major cities likeLondon,Manchester, andBirminghambenefit from competitive markets with alternative network providers offeringgigabit speeds.
The government's commitment to nationwide gigabit coverage by 2030 is driving significant investment in rural broadband infrastructure. Alternative network providers are expanding rapidly, bringing competition to previously underserved areas.