If you’re looking for the fastest broadband speeds in the UK, you’ll need a gigabit full fibre connection.
But what if full fibre isn’t available in your area from providers such as BT, Sky and TalkTalk?
Don’t worry—there are plenty of fast broadband options, including Virgin Media and many more smaller, alternative providers too.
In this guide, we’ll help you find the best broadband for your location, compare the fastest providers, and determine whether upgrading is worth it.
What’s the fastest internet speed available in the UK?
The UK’s fastest broadband comes from full fibre providers, delivering speeds up to 10Gbps (10,000Mbps). However, most homes with full fibre will see maximum speeds around 1Gbps (1,000Mbps). To put things into perspective, with speeds this fast, you could download a 4K film in just a few seconds!
For areas without full fibre, Virgin Media offers the fastest widely available speeds—up to 1.1Gbps.
| Provider | Maximum Speed | Availability |
|---|---|---|
| BT Full Fibre | 900Mb | Growing full fibre (FTTP) |
| Virgin Media | 1.1Gb+ | 55% of UK homes |
| Hyperoptic | 1Gb | Limited cities and new builds |
| YouFibre | 7Gb | Select locations |
| CityFibre | 1Gb+ | Expanding network |
Check availability in your area: Use our broadband checker.
Do I need the fastest broadband?
Not everyone needs gigabit speeds, but if you have a large household, stream 4K content, or work from home, a faster connection can improve your experience. A speed upgrade doesn’t have to be expensive. You can often double your speed for just a couple of Pounds more per month. Here’s a quick guide to what you need:
- Casual browsing & social media – 10-30Mb
- Streaming HD, video calls & light gaming – 50-100Mb
- Multiple users, 4K streaming & gaming – 300Mb+
- Heavy downloads, smart homes & large households – 1Gb+
With every online device connected in a home, the more demand there is on a broadband connection. Even if your package is coping right now, having a bit of wiggle room on speeds is a great way to future-proof your home. Especially as more gadgets can now be connected to your Wi-Fi.
For help with choosing the right package, read our ultimate guide to broadband speeds.
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Help! I can’t get the fastest internet speeds from well-known broadband providers
If you can’t get the fastest packages from the big named providers such as BT, Sky, TalkTalk, Plusnet or Vodafone, we highly recommend exploring the deals on offer from independent internet service providers who operate their own network. These ‘alternative network providers’ are also known as ‘AltNets’.
Not only do these offer the fastest download speeds, but they often have upload speeds that are just as fast.
These specialist high-speed internet service providers (ISPs) serve smaller, local areas. For example, Hyperoptic delivers gigabit broadband in London and some other major cities. It’s also been focusing on adding fibre optic cables to new-build blocks of flats. Similarly, YouFibre provides very fast fibre optic internet up to 6.8Gb, but only in parts of the UK including Liverpool, Guildford, Lancaster and South West Belfast.
How much do the fastest broadband packages cost?
The fastest broadband packages are more affordable than you may think. For a fast package with average download speeds between 900Mb-1.1Gb, prices start from under £40 per month.
There are regularly special offers available for fast deals that include vouchers or bill credits. Here are today’s best deals:
When will my area get faster broadband?
Most homes now have access to fast broadband services using an Openreach telephone line or from the Virgin Media cable network. Often you’ll have a choice between both.
If full fibre isn’t yet available in your area, it might be coming soon. Openreach and CityFibre are rolling out FTTP across the UK. Check their websites for updates, and keep an eye out for local providers advertising in your area.
- Openreach Fibre Checker
- CityFibre Postcode Checker
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Will I get speeds as fast as advertised?
Advertised download speeds are an average based on the performance of the provider's broadband users. You can reasonably expect to get something very similar to what they’re claiming. However, it’s not guaranteed. You may find that the connection is slower than advertised. In some lucky cases, you might even get faster speeds.
But this shouldn’t come as a surprise. When joining a provider as a new customer, you should always be given an accurate speed estimate for your address before you sign a contract. If the connection is slower than the estimate, speak to the provider about possible solutions.
There are a few providers signed up to Ofcom's Broadband Speeds Code of Practice. These include BT, EE, NOW Broadband, Plusnet, Sky, TalkTalk, Utility Warehouse, Virgin Media and Zen Internet. If you are having issues with your speed and signed up to one of these providers that can't be fixed within 30 days, you may be entitled to leave for free.
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What's superfast broadband?
‘Superfast’ is a term used to describe part-fibre broadband services (FTTC) that are quicker than standard broadband (ADSL), which is delivered over a traditional phone line.
Ofcom defines it as a connection with a download speed of 30Mb+, but it may also refer to broadband speeds of 24Mb+.
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How do I test my broadband speed?
You can test your speed right now using the free Broadband Genie speed test.
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Can I get fast fibre broadband in my area?
To find out if you can get on the fibre network in your area, use our free postcode checker tool, which you can find further up the page or on any of our broadband comparison tables.
If you live in a rural area, this may be a little less likely. But we have a guide on rural broadband to help you out.
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Where is gigabit broadband available?
You can get gigabit broadband from either Virgin Media or a full fibre provider. Use our postcode checker to see what’s in your area.
If you’d like to learn more about fibre, we have a dedicated full fibre broadband guide that will explain everything you need to know.
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Will a different router improve my broadband speeds?
Your broadband speed may be a result of poor Wi-Fi router performance or signal strength. Before you upgrade your Wi-Fi router, you may want to experiment with repositioning your device, changing frequencies or trying Wi-Fi boosters or mesh Wi-Fi kits. You can check our guide on troubleshooting your broadband speeds for more information.
If you’re experiencing slow broadband at peak times, this may be down to traffic management from your service provider rather than any issue with your equipment. You can find out more in our guide: ‘what is broadband traffic management and traffic throttling?’
What broadband can I get? How to find the fastest broadband in your area
Ready to get speedier internet? You can instantly find out the maximum speed available for your home broadband using our broadband deals checker.
We’ve already set the filters for you on this search to show the fastest speeds first. Try it now!