Broadband Guides

If you're looking for some help with your broadband switch or support with a broadband problem, our broadband guides are here to help.

Setting up broadband

Setting up your new broadband router may feel daunting but it doesn't have to be! Check out our extensive broadband set-up guides.

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Do I need a landline for broadband?Want broadband without a phone line? It's now easier than ever to get broadband without a ..

Business vs home broadband: Which service do I need?In this guide we look at the key selling points of business broadband over home broadband ..

A teenager pointing to a Wi-Fi router to explain to an older lady what it is. Next to an emoji of a satellite.

What are the best wireless routers?Guide to the best broadband routers in the UK. Find the best router for coverage across ma ..

Broadband and moving house - how to set up your internetYour guide to moving your broadband connection to your new house. Here's what to consider ..

Man drinking a coffee while on a laptop while sitting in a caravan

How to get Wi-Fi in a caravanThere are several ways you can get great broadband in a caravan. Read on to find out how y ..

A header image with the text "Parental control resources" and a photo of a boy playing a handheld gaming device.

How to set up and update parental controlsA comprehensive guide to parental controls, including how to update and configure your chi ..

person setting up their broadband at home

How to self-install your broadband connectionFor times when an engineer can't visit your home to install your new broadband, here's how ..

How to change your Wi-Fi passwordYou don't have to keep the Wi-Fi password set by your broadband provider. Follow our step- ..

Woman plugging black WiFi extender in an electric socket on green wall

Boost your Wi-Fi: signal extenders explainedAre there spots in your home where you can't connect to the internet? See how a Wi-Fi boos ..

Which smart home devices should I buy?Smart homes can make your house secure and your household chores a breeze. Here are the sm ..

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Broadband basics

Finding broadband confusing? We've explained the most common broadband jargon and need-to-know essentials in our basics guides.

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woman working from home two screens coding

Bits and bytes explained — a guide to internet connection speedsKnowing the difference between bits and bytes is key to understanding broadband download t ..

Five important details to look for in your broadband billFind out the key details to be aware of in your next broadband bill, so you can avoid pric ..

person unlocking laptop with smartphone protection 2fa (two-factor authentication)

How to stay safe online - a guide to internet securityFind out all the best ways you can stay safe while using the internet, from antivirus soft ..

woman smiling while using her phone and laptop in a cafe

What is broadband and how does it work?Want to know what broadband is? Here's your user guide to everything you need to know abou ..

IP addresses are like a phone number for your computer.

What is an IP address?What is an IP address? How do I find my IP address? Find out these answers and more about ..

What is a wireless router?Read our guide to wireless routers to find out how to set them up and how they get your ho ..

an old box computer monitor facing a modern laptop

History of the internet: a timeline throughout the yearsThe history of broadband from the '70s until today. From dial-up to broadband, read up on ..

Man with a gaming controller next to a question about fair usage policy

What is a "Fair Usage Policy"?Wondering what a fair usage policy is? Read our guide to broadband fair usage policies, in ..

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Broadband speeds

Ever wondered what broadband speed you need? We've got your broadband speed questions covered here.

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Internet upload speeds explained: what are 'symmetrical' broadband speeds?Ever wondered why your upload speed is so slow? Here's all you need to know about internet ..

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What broadband speed do I need for Black Friday?Is your broadband ready to handle all the new gadgets you're planning to get on Black Frid ..

What broadband speed do I need for streaming?The amount of broadband speed you need to stream depends on which platforms you use, what ..

What broadband speed do I need?Take a look at our guide to broadband speed guide — find out what speeds you have availabl ..

Download time calculator: check your internet speedUnderstanding broadband speeds and download times has never been easier with our download ..

What is gigabit internet?The next big step in home broadband is the introduction of gigabit internet speeds across ..

working from home broadband guide - woman working from her kitchen table at home

Getting the most out of your broadband when working from homeWith many of us working from home at least part of the time, there are a few things you ca ..

Can you get ultrafast internet speeds?Unsure if you need ultrafast broadband? Here’s how to get the some of the fastest broadban ..

uswitch slowest streets image with man looking concerned at his computer

Which UK streets have the slowest broadband speed?We've found the UK streets with the slowest internet speeds. 90% of them can get faster br ..

tube map showing internet speeds of each station in zone 1

How to find good Wi-Fi on the tubeThe London Underground has a surprisingly good network of Wi-Fi hubs at stations throughou ..

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Solving problem with your broadband

From complaints to internet connection issues, check out our best tips to help solve your broadband problems.

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How to complain to your broadband provider guide - woman stressed on her phone

How to complain to your broadband providerFrom price rise woes, to annoying connection dropouts, to poor customer service, here's ho ..

child learning from home with his teacher on a video call

Broadband social tariffs for universal credit and low incomesIf you're on Universal Credit or receiving other financial benefits, you can find a much c ..

38 million consumers lost internet for 3+ hours 2023-2024

Broadband outage: what to do when your broadband goes downWhat happens when your broadband goes down? What can you do about it? And how long will yo ..

Why is my internet so slow?Here are all the things that could be causing your internet to slow down, and what you can ..

internet connection problems - woman looking stressed

Your guide to internet connection problemsHaving internet connection problems? Here are a few pointers to help you identify the sour ..

Young woman on a video call on her laptop

A guide to video calling onlineVideo calls have become a standard practice in most of our lives. Here's how to get the mo ..

woman looking very frustrated with her broadband connection

My broadband services are down, can I get money back?With your broadband down or if you're experiencing wifi problems, you're entitled to compe ..

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Broadband price rises

Covering the latest price rise announcements from all of the major providers.

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Broadband price rises in 2024 explainedBroadband prices gone up mid-contract? Learn why prices have increased by as much as 8.8% ..

Virgin Media price increase 2024: what can customers do?Virgin Media increased its broadband and TV prices by 8.8% in April 2024. Find out what yo ..

two people at home sorting out their bills

How to save money on your broadband billLooking for ways to save money on your monthly bills? Here's how you can reduce what you s ..

man sat at a desk on the phone while looking at his laptop

EE broadband price rise 2024: what can you do?EE hiked its prices by 7.9% for nearly every customer from 31 March 2024. Find out what yo ..

talktalk price increases - man checking bills

TalkTalk price increase 2024: what can you do?TalkTalk raised its prices for almost all customers by 7.7% in 2024. Here's what you can d ..

Plusnet price increase 2024: what can customers do?Almost all Plusnet customers will have seen their prices go up by 7.9% in 2024. If you’re ..

woman sat at her kitchen table looking at her bills

Vodafone broadband price increase 2024: what can customers do?Vodafone increased its broadband prices by 7.9% for most customers in Spring 2024. Find ou ..

woman looking concerned at her sky bill increase

Sky broadband and TV price hike 2024 - what can you do?Sky hiked prices by 6.7% for millions of customers in 2024. Find out what you can do as a ..

BT price increase 2024: what can customers do?BT increased its prices by 7.9% for millions of its customers in Spring 2024. Learn all th ..

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Mobile broadband

Interested in mobile broadband? Check out our mobile broadband explainer guides to find out more.

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What is 5G home broadband?5G home broadband could provide you with download speeds well over 200Mbps, all without th ..

image of a huawei cpe 5g router or vodafone gigacube plugged in at home

Vodafone GigaCube 5G broadband reviewWe reviewed Vodafone's 5G broadband service, GigaCube, to see if 5G speeds can really be a ..

MiFi device vs mobile broadband router: what’s the difference?Wondering what is MiFi? Thinking of getting for 5G home broadband? Find out the difference ..

How to use a mobile internet dongleWondering what is a broadband dongle? Want to ask what is a USB mobile broadband stick? Re ..

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Broadband providers

Our latest news and advice on broadband providers.

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Which broadband provider has the best customer service?Using the latest data from Ofcom, see which broadband provider is best for customer servic ..

“Smaller providers were voted best value for money broadband.”

The best value for money broadband providers in the UKSee which providers offer the fastest speeds for the cheapest prices, and find out what el ..

How to get Volt benefits from Virgin Media O2What benefits do you get for being a Virgin Media broadband and O2 mobile customer? Find o ..

woman smiling at her phone while sat on her sofa

Altnet broadband providers explained: how to get cheap full fibreAltnets are smaller broadband providers offering full fibre-only deals. Find out why they' ..

woman using her laptop while sat on her sofa

How do I keep my email address if I change providers?If you've been using the email address linked to your broadband account, you should be abl ..

Your guide to UK broadband providersGet up-to-date info on your broadband supplier and browse the different options available ..

How to contact your broadband providerHere's how to contact your broadband provider if you need to cancel, change your services, ..

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Switching broadband

If you're looking for more information on switching broadband, our guides cover everything from how to switch broadband to how to get the best deals.

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black friday broadband and tv deals image

How to get the best Black Friday broadband and TV dealsThe Black Friday and Cyber Monday weekend is a great time to buy a cheaper broadband deal ..

How to switch broadband - a guide to changing your providerWant to switch your broadband service? Here's how to do it all, from finding the speed you ..

Six broadband switching myths — bustedWhat's keeping people from switching to a better broadband service? We found six myths sur ..

one touch switch broadband image with couple using laptop

One Touch Switch explainedSwitching broadband just got even easier. Here’s what the new process means for you next t ..

How to claim your broadband vouchers guide - man shopping

How to claim your broadband vouchers, gift cards and reward cards after you switchBroadband providers often offer gift vouchers or reward cards when you switch, here's how ..

How to recycle your broadband routerReduce waste and save on extra costs by recycling or returning your old broadband router a ..

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Gaming broadband

Online gaming requires a good connection, fast speed and plenty of bandwidth. Find out how you can get the best broadband for your gaming here.

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best console for kids guide - young boy playing video games

Best games console for kids 2024: top family consolesIf you're looking to buy a console for your kids, there's a lot to consider, such as price ..

160 video gaming terms, words and slang explainedNew to gaming? We’ve got you covered with Uswitch’s must-know gaming terminology glossary. ..

Lag, ping and latency in online gamingWhat's the difference between lag, ping and latency, and how will it affect your online ga ..

Xbox cloud gaming: everything you need to knowWant to get access to a huge library of gaming to try out and play wherever you have an in ..

Video game genres: every game type explainedWith thousands of video games already available, and countless more released each year, ho ..

Gaming advice for parents: What you need to know about online gaming and your child

Online gaming advice for parents: What you need to knowA guide to safe online gaming for children, offering online gaming advice for parents, inc ..

How to set up PlayStation parental controlsSet up parental controls on PlayStation 5 and PlayStation 4 to keep your kids safe online, ..

How to set up Nintendo Switch parental controls guide

How to set up Nintendo Switch parental controlsHere's how to set up Nintendo Switch parental controls if you're looking to keep your chil ..

How to set up parental controls on Xbox consolesKeep your children safe online by setting up Xbox parental controls that restrict screen t ..

What is Apple Arcade?Apple's gaming subscription includes around 200 games that can be played on any Apple device.

Games controller next to text about video games

Best upcoming game releases 2023Find out the best and most anticipated game releases such as Final Fantasy XVI and Legend ..

two teenagers playing video games on a gaming console

Cloud gaming and game streaming guide | What's the best game streaming service?Cloud gaming gives gamers access to large libraries of video games, while platforms like T ..

What is the latest on Microsoft’s gaming streaming service?Microsoft is rumoured to be developing a game streaming service that wouldn't require game ..

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Types of broadband

There are lots of broadband connections available in the UK but where you live will determine whether it is available to you. Read our broadband connection guides for more information.

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man playing video games at home on Wi-Fi

What is superfast broadband?Don't know what superfast broadband is? Read our guide to find out what it is and how to c ..

Happy 60s older mature middle aged adult woman using digital tablet on Wi-Fi

The different types of broadband in the UKFind out all about the different broadband connections available in the UK, and which ones ..

image of a woman using full fibre broadband at home

What is full fibre broadband?Full fibre is one of the fastest types of broadband in the UK. Find out all you need to kn ..

Satellite internet explained: is satellite broadband any good?How does satellite internet work? Is it available where I live? How fast is it? Find out a ..

What is fibre broadband and how does it work?How does fibre-optic broadband work? Which fibre broadband package is right for me? Do you ..

ADSL stands for Asymmetric Digital Subscriber Line

What is ADSL broadband?Want to know how ADSL broadband works? Read Uswitch's quick guide to ADSL broadband. Find ..

What is cable broadband?Think cable broadband is the same thing as fibre? Think again. Read on to learn more about ..

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Broadband studies

Read our latest broadband studies. From the Global Broadband Index to the most successful movie sequels, we've got you covered.

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Woman gamer on PC - How to speed up your console

Video game downloads: how to speed up your consoleBored waiting for video games to download on your console? Try these top tips to speed up ..

Feature image with the title "200+ UK fibre broadband statistics 2024" next to a fibre optic cable

200+ UK Fibre Broadband Statistics 2024 - Fibre Broadband Facts & Stats ReportWhich UK region is the best for full fibre broadband? We’ve compiled over 200 fibre broadb ..

Parent’s Guide to PEGI Ratings and Gaming for KidsWe reveal the best child-friendly games, as well as help parents to decipher PEGI age rati ..

Metaverse-Ready NationsWe have analysed nations across the globe on factors, including internet speeds and Metave ..

Online Learning IndexWe have analysed 50 UK universities on factors such as the number of online courses and un ..

Hybrid working index: the best locations for working online from homeWe've ranked the best towns and cities across the UK for hybrid working, so you can balanc ..

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Broadband Guides

Setting up broadband

Broadband basics

Broadband speeds

Solving problem with your broadband

Broadband price rises

Mobile broadband

Broadband providers

Switching broadband

Gaming broadband

Types of broadband

Broadband studies