The slowest broadband in the UK revealed

The speeds you will enjoy from your broadband provider can vary for a range of reasons, including location.

Broadband has become an essential product for millions of us in recent years.

Even before the pandemic, many of us relied on a decent internet connection for our leisure time, for example through streaming services and gaming online.

Then with the arrival of Covid, plenty of people have become dependent on it ‒ at least part of the week ‒ for work too.

The trouble is that the actual standard and speed of broadband you receive can be extremely variable, based not only on the package you’re paying for but the provider and your location too.

So which areas have the slowest broadband?

A study earlier this year from National Broadband looked to dig into precisely that question. 

The firm analysed the typical download speeds you can enjoy in different regions of the UK, and the results were pretty stark.

Below are the 20 regions pinpointed as having the slowest average median download speed. 

It’s worth noting as well how many of these towns are found in rural areas, particularly in Scotland and Wales.

Clearly, if you are located outside of big, built-up areas then there is a real danger that a lack of true investment in broadband infrastructure will leave you suffering from buffering as a result of a poor broadband connection.

Broadband speeds change by the street

However, even living within a city is no guarantee of getting usable speeds.

The differences in infrastructure can mean that speeds vary virtually by the street, with sharp variances in typical speeds even within the same city.

This was highlighted by a study from uSwitch last year, which analysed the fastest and slowest typical speeds available in some of the big cities across the country.

Here is how they shape up:

Happen to live on the wrong streets, and you will be stuck with a rubbish connection, compared with those just a few streets further along.

Differences between broadband providers

Of course, the broadband provider you opt for will also have a big bearing on the speeds you enjoy.

The reality is that some are more reliable when it comes to providing faster speeds on a consistent basis than others.

That’s why it’s a good idea to keep an eye on the average complaints figures received by each of the suppliers, which is published on a quarterly basis by Ofcom.

While those complaints are not limited just to issues around speed, they offer a useful insight into which providers are keeping their customers happy and which are most likely to be letting them down.

Check out our run-through of the latest broadband complaints figures here.

Switching broadband suppliers

Because of these speed variances, it’s not uncommon for households to be paying for more than they are actually getting or using from their broadband provider.

And that can be a costly mistake.

We have put together a comprehensive guide to getting the best value for money when picking out a new broadband deal, as well as everything you need to know about the process of switching.