Broadband comes to UK homes by a handful of technologies. Your best choice depends on what’s actually available at your postcode, what you do online, and how many people share the line. Use the RightSpeed quiz to size your speed, test your current line with HowFast, then compare the latest broadband deals available in the UK, or browse through all UK Internet Service providers (ISPs) here. One‑Touch Switch makes moving provider simpler, and 2025 consumer rules make pricing clearer [1][3]. The old copper phone network is being retired by 2027, so all services are moving to Fibre and digital voice over broadband [4][5].
Example of the FREE Speed Questionnaire at RightSpeed.co.uk – Built to help UK Consumers and Small business understand the ‘real’ broadband speed requirements for their needs, promoting accuracy and fairness. You can access this tool for free at https://rightspeed.co.uk/
At a glance
- Technologies you’ll see: ADSL (old copper), FTTC/VDSL2 (part‑fibre via a street cabinet), full‑fibre FTTP (best all‑round), cable/DOCSIS (fast, widely available in towns/cities), fixed‑wireless/5G, and satellite.
- Coverage keeps improving: By early 2025 about three‑quarters of UK homes could order full‑fibre; gigabit coverage is even higher [2].
- Choosing a speed: Start with activity and headroom, not marketing labels. A family with 2x 4K streams plus school/work will usually be happiest from 150–300 Mbps; busier homes or creators may want 300–500 Mbps or more.
- A fair way to size your line: Try RightSpeed to get a no‑nonsense speed bracket that fits how you live: rightspeed.co.uk.
- Measure before you switch: Baseline your line at busy time with HowFast: howfast.uk.
- Switching: The One Touch Switch process lets you just contact your new provider and they handle the rest [3].
- Mid‑contract price rises: From 17 January 2025, new contracts cannot use inflation‑linked rises; any increase must be stated in pounds and pence upfront [1].
- Landlines: The old PSTN will be switched off by January 2027. Voice moves to digital over broadband. Providers are aligning their products to this timetable [4][5].
- Wi‑Fi matters: Many “slow broadband” complaints are actually in‑home Wi‑Fi issues. Fix those first [8].
1) The technologies, in plain English
Your experience depends more on the access technology and your home network than on the name of the tariff.
ADSL (copper from the exchange)
- What it is: Internet over the old copper phone line from the exchange to your home.
- Typical experience: Fine for email and light web. Performance drops as the copper run gets longer.
- When it makes sense: As a last resort where nothing else is available (rural/remote).
- Why it’s fading: Full‑fibre and cabinet‑based services have overtaken it [2].
FTTC / VDSL2 (often marketed as “fibre”)
- What it is: Fibre runs to the street cabinet; the final stretch to your home is copper.
- Performance caveat: Speed degrades with distance from the cabinet (for example, ~80 Mbps near the cabinet can fall to ~28 Mbps at ~1 km) [10].
- Good for: Typical families when full‑fibre isn’t available yet.
Full‑fibre FTTP (best all‑round)
- What it is: Fibre all the way to your home.
- Why it’s better: High capacity, predictable performance, strong upload, and better fault resilience. By January 2025, ~74% of UK homes could order full‑fibre, and gigabit coverage was even higher [2].
- Who benefits most: Busy homes, 4K streaming on multiple TVs, creators uploading large files, frequent video calls.
Cable / DOCSIS (Virgin Media areas)
- What it is: A hybrid fibre/coax network originally built for cable TV.
- Speed headline: Cable areas now include 2 Gbps residential services in parts of the footprint, with symmetric options appearing alongside new fibre builds [12].
- Good for: High‑speed download in many towns and cities, especially where FTTP hasn’t reached your street yet.
Fixed‑wireless / 4G/5G home broadband
- What it is: A router with a mobile SIM connects to nearby masts.
- Pros: Quick to install; useful when fixed networks lag.
- Watch‑outs: Speeds vary by signal quality, mast load and indoor placement. Consider an external antenna if needed.
Satellite
- What it is: Two‑way satellite internet via a dish.
- Pros: Works almost anywhere with sky view.
- Watch‑outs: Higher latency than terrestrial options; weather and line‑of‑sight matter. Useful as a last resort or backup.
Naming note: UK advertising rules require “average” speeds in ads (achievable by at least 50% of customers at peak time) rather than “up to” claims [9].
2) How fast is “fast enough”? A practical way to size your connection
You do not need to pay for a headline number you never use. Size your connection to your peak hour.
A quick rule‑of‑thumb for peak time
- Start with people: budget 20–30 Mbps per active person for mixed use.
- For each concurrent 4K stream, add ~25–40 Mbps of download headroom.
- For each concurrent HD video call, budget ~3–5 Mbps upload.
- If someone routinely downloads big game/OS updates during the evening, add 50–150 Mbps of download headroom.
- Add 25–40% headroom for Wi‑Fi loss and busy‑time bursts.
Want a personalised, activity‑based recommendation? Try the free RightSpeed quiz: rightspeed.co.uk
Why headroom matters: Streaming platforms can use a lot of data and benefit from slack in the line. Netflix, for example, indicates up to ~3 GB/hour for HD and up to ~7 GB/hour for 4K; that data has to coexist with everyone else’s traffic at home [7].
3) Check what you can actually get at your address
- Test your current line at a busy time so you know your baseline. Use HowFast: howfast.uk. Run two tests: one on Wi‑Fi where you sit, one by Ethernet into the router.
- See who can serve you and which technologies reach your postcode here.
- Plan your switch
- Read our saving playbook: Save Big by Switching to Cheaper Broadband
- Understand why 2025 is the year to switch: searchswitchsave.com/why-2025-is-the-year-to-switch-broadband/
- Check your setup will last: Is Your Broadband Ready for the Future?
- Switching is simpler now
- For most households, One Touch Switch means you only contact your new provider; they handle the rest [3].
- From 17 January 2025, new contracts cannot hide inflation‑linked rises; any planned increase must be clearly stated in pounds and pence at sign‑up [1].
4) Upload speed, latency and why they matter
- Upload powers video calls, cloud backups, creator workflows and security cameras. Full‑fibre and some cable/fibre builds offer strong or even symmetric upload.
- Latency is delay. Gaming and calls need a low, stable latency more than raw Mbps. Wired Ethernet beats Wi‑Fi for stability, and a good router can prioritise real‑time traffic.
5) The copper landline is going away: what that means for you
- The PSTN (traditional copper phone network) is scheduled to be switched off by January 2027. Voice calls move to Digital Voice over your broadband router [4][5].
- If you rely on alarms, telecare or special services, speak to your provider well before you switch so they can confirm compatibility and any required adapters [4][5].
- Providers have aligned their legacy copper products to the new end date. If you still use a copper‑only service, expect migration contact in good time [5].
6) Cable vs FTTP: does it matter in practice?
- Both can be very fast. FTTP is the cleanest long‑term option with strong upload and simpler fault isolation.
- Cable/DOCSIS in many towns is now extremely quick too, with 2 Gbps tiers live in parts of the footprint. Some areas are also being upgraded to full‑fibre and symmetric options as rollouts progress [12].
- If both are available and prices are similar, FTTP is usually the safer long‑term bet. If FTTP is not yet on your street, a cable gigabit tier often delivers excellent everyday performance.
7) Fix the Wi‑Fi and you often fix “slow broadband”
Most speed complaints are really Wi‑Fi bottlenecks. Try these proven steps before you change plan:
- Place the router high and central, not in a cupboard. Keep it away from TVs, microwaves and dense furniture.
- Use Ethernet for TVs, consoles and desktop PCs where you can.
- Prefer 5 GHz (and Wi‑Fi 6/6E/7‑capable gear) for speed; use 2.4 GHz for range and smart devices.
- For big or thick‑walled homes, consider a mesh kit.
- Reboot old ISP routers and update firmware a few times a year.
These are standard, regulator‑endorsed tips that often recover the speed you already pay for [8].
8) How long do big downloads really take?
(Simple maths to calibrate expectations)
Assume a 10 GB game update (≈10,240 MB). Theoretical minimum time if your line is free and you use Ethernet:
| Line speed (down) | Approx. max MB/s | Time for 10 GB |
|---|---|---|
| 50 Mbps | 6.25 MB/s | ~27 min |
| 150 Mbps | 18.75 MB/s | ~9 min |
| 500 Mbps | 62.5 MB/s | ~2.7 min |
| 1 Gbps | 125 MB/s | ~1.4 min |
Real life will be slower due to server limits, shared use and Wi‑Fi overheads. The point is that headroom leaves room for everything else to breathe.
9) Sensible next steps
- Get your speed fit: Run the 30‑second quiz at RightSpeed to get a realistic bracket that fits your household: rightspeed.co.uk
- Baseline your line: Test at busy time with HowFast and note download, upload and ping: howfast.uk or UKSpeedTest
- Compare what’s actually on offer: Use the SSS ISP Directory to see technologies and packages at your postcode:
searchswitchsave.com/ispdirectory/ or use this direct search facility that aggregates the best UK Broadband Deals all in one place. - Make the move with confidence:
- Save Big by Switching: searchswitchsave.com/save-big-by-switching-to-cheaper-broadband-the-uk-household-guide/
- Why 2025 is the Year to Switch: searchswitchsave.com/why-2025-is-the-year-to-switch-broadband/
- Future‑proof your setup: searchswitchsave.com/is-your-broadband-ready-for-the-future/
10) Useful consumer protections to know
- Price certainty: Inflation‑linked price rises are banned in new contracts from 17 January 2025. If a provider plans to increase, they must show the exact £/month at sign‑up [1].
- Simpler switching: One Touch Switch means you usually only speak to your new provider when changing broadband or landline [3].
- Advertising clarity: UK ads must show average speeds that at least 50% of customers can get at peak time, not “up to” outliers [9].
- Social tariffs: If your household receives certain benefits, ask about social tariffs. They’re cheap, unlimited packages designed to keep people connected [14].
11) A quick glossary
- Mbps vs MB/s: 8 Mb = 1 MB. ISPs quote Mbps; download tools often show MB/s.
- Latency/Jitter: Delay and the variation of that delay. Lower and steadier is better for calls and gaming.
- Symmetric speeds: The same download and upload rate. Common on many full‑fibre networks.
- FTTC vs FTTP: FTTC uses copper for the last leg from the cabinet; FTTP uses fibre all the way.
Disclaimers
- Availability changes quickly as networks expand; treat any speed examples as guidance, not promises.
- Your in‑home Wi‑Fi setup can hide the speed you pay for; test by Ethernet to check the line itself.
Sources (APA style)
[1] Ofcom. (2024, July 19). Ofcom bans mid‑contract price rises linked to inflation. www.ofcom.org.uk
[2] Ofcom. (2025, May 8). Connected Nations update: Spring 2025. www.ofcom.org.uk
[3] Ofcom. (2024, September 12). Simpler and quicker broadband switching is here. www.ofcom.org.uk
[4] BT Business. (2025, January 23). Your guide to the PSTN network switch‑off. BT Business
[5] Openreach. (2024, July 10 update). WLR withdrawal: Alignment to 31 January 2027.
[6] Liberty Global. (2021, July 29). Virgin Media O2 announces 2028 full fibre upgrade plan. libertyglobal.com
[7] Netflix Help Center. (n.d.). How to control how much data Netflix uses (includes “up to 3 GB/hour for HD, up to 7 GB/hour for Ultra HD”). Netflix Help Center
[8] Ofcom. (2024, February 19). Improving your Wi‑Fi experience. www.ofcom.org.uk
[9] Advertising Standards Authority (ASA). (2024, April 4). Broadband and telecoms: Speed claims (peak‑time median rule). ASA
[10] Increase Broadband Speed. (2020, May 17). VDSL2 (FTTC) speed vs. distance. Increase Broadband Speed
[11] Ofcom. (2024, December 5). Connected Nations UK report 2024 (technology definitions and trends). www.ofcom.org.uk
[12] Virgin Media O2. (2024). Virgin Media switches on residential 2Gbps broadband service (and symmetric add‑on in some areas). Virgin Media Community
[14] Ofcom. (2025, July 15 update). Social tariffs: Cheaper broadband and phone packages.