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What’s the average internet speed in the UK?
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Broadband speeds are only getting faster, and the average internet speed you can get in the UK today has never been higher. Here’s everything you need to know.
By Virgin Media Edit
- Published
- 24 April 2025
What is the average broadband speed?
According to the Ofcom, the UK’s average broadband speed in 2025 is 223 Mbps, up from 170 Mbps in 2023. That’s an increase of 31% in the past year, brought on by people upgrading to gigabit broadband and other ultrafast broadband options.
As per Ofcom’s Connected Nations 2024 report from December, gigabit broadband coverage in the UK (speeds of over 1000 Mbps) has reached 83%, which is well on target to reach the Government's target of 85% by the end of 2025.
Northern Ireland was found to have the fastest broadband speeds on average at 259 Mbps, followed by England with 225Mbps, Scotland with 215Mbps, and lastly Wales at 181 Mbps.
Northern Ireland has the broadest full-fibre coverage in the uk (83%), with multiple national providers, including Virgin Media, offering full fibre in urban areas. Our full fibre (Nexfibre) options, now available in over 2 million homes across the UK, offer speeds of up to 2Gbps (2000 Gbps) with our gigabit broadband.
What’s my broadband speed?
Let’s see if you’re above average! Use our helpful online broadband speed test to see if you’re broadband speed if faster or slower than the national average.
Along with speed, our tool gives details on other factors that can impact your online experience, like bandwidth, latency and jitter by mimicking your online activities and testing how long things take.
What’s considered a good broadband speed?
If there’s a few of you at home using the internet at the internet at the same time, at broadband speed of at least 100-150 Mbps is a good target to aim for. That should be more than enough to stream, download, and attend video calls all at once without slowing things down.
For people who work from home, stream in 4K, or like online gaming, speeds of 200 Mbps or higher can make a big difference. Ultrafast speeds of over 200 Mbps can help everything load quickly and keeps video calls or uploads smooth without lag or delays.
Different types of broadband and their average speeds
There are several types of broadband available in the UK, each offering different speeds and levels of performance.
Here’s a breakdown of the most common types of broadband and what speeds you can expect from each:
ADSL is one of the oldest types of broadband and uses the same copper wires as a traditional phone line. It’s available in most parts of the UK, especially in rural areas. However, it’s also the slowest type. Typical download speeds range from 8 to 24 Mbps, depending on how far you are from the telephone exchange. ADSL is suitable for light internet use like browsing and emailing but can struggle with streaming or gaming.
FTTC broadband is a mix of fibre and copper, using fibre cables to a street cabinet, and copper wires to connect the cabinet to your home. It’s much faster than ADSL and is widely available across the UK. Download speeds usually range from 30 to 80 Mbps. FTTC is good for streaming, gaming, and households with several people using the internet at once.
FTTP, also known as full fibre broadband, uses fibre optic cables all the way from the exchange to your home, which makes it much faster and more reliable than FTTC. Speeds can reach up to 1 Gbps (1,000 Mbps) or even more in some areas. It’s ideal for heavy internet users, large families, and people who work from home or stream in 4K.
Gigabit broadband is any broadband service that can deliver speeds of 1 Gbps or higher. This is powered high-speed fibre networks, providing you with some of the fastest speeds you can get in the UK. Gigabit broadband is perfect for people who download large files, stream in 4K or 8K, use cloud services, or run smart home systems. It’s becoming more common in cities and towns across the UK, and it's considered "future-proof" for growing internet demands.
Mobile broadband uses 4G or 5G mobile networks instead of traditional cables. It can be used through a dongle, mobile router, or SIM card in a device, and speeds can vary a lot. 4G can give you around 20 to 100 Mbps, while 5G can go over 200 Mbps in good areas. This makes mobile broadband a flexible option for people who move around or don’t have access to fast fixed broadband at home.
Satellite broadband connects to the internet through a satellite dish. It’s available almost everywhere, even in remote areas, but it’s usually more expensive and slower than other types. Speeds range from 10 to 100 Mbps, but there can be delays (latency), which make it less ideal for gaming or video calls.
Not sure what broadband you can get at home? Use our helpful postcode checker and enter your postcode to see all of the speeds and packages you can get in your area.
How much broadband speed do I actually need?
The amount of broadband speed you need depends on how many people use the internet in your home and what they do online. If you mostly browse the web, check emails, and stream your favourite shows, a speed of around 100 Mbps should be enough for one or two users.
But if you do a lot of heavy online activities like streaming in 4K, working from home, or uploading big files, then you might need speeds of 200 Mbps or more. This gives everyone enough bandwidth to do what they want without slowing others down.
A general rule to follow is that the more people and devices you have using the internet at the same time, the higher your broadband speed should be. It's always a good idea to pick a broadband package that gives you a little more speed than you think you need, so things stay fast and reliable even during busy times.
Upgrade your internet speed
If you’re in need of a speed boost, we’ve got a range of broadband options offering speeds of up to 1130 Mbps and beyond when you go gigabit.
Be sure to compare all of our broadband package deals to see what superfast speeds you could get when you switch to Virgin Media.
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