Learn about the different types of home broadband in the UK and compare different broadband internet service providers (ISPs).

In the UK, there are multiple different technologies used for home broadband including ADSL, fibre, cable, 4G and 5G. There are also numerous different ISPs you can choose from, with a range of different home broadband plans using different underlying technologies.

In this section, we’ll explain the different types of home broadband in the UK, the pros & cons of each broadband technology and where you’re currently able to get it. We’ll also compare different broadband ISPs across each type of home broadband technology.

Which ISPs provide home broadband in the UK?
What are the different types of home broadband?
There are seven different types of home broadband technology currently used in the UK:
  • ADSL: Uses a copper phone line connection between your home and the telephone exchange. Average speeds of 11Mbit/s.
  • FTTC: Uses a fibre optic connection to your street cabinet, with a copper phone line from the cabinet to your home. Average speeds of 60Mbit/s.
  • G.fast: A hybrid technology with fibre optic cables running to the telephone pole or pavement chamber. A copper connection runs the rest of the way to your home. Average speeds of 280Mbit/s.
  • DOCSIS Cable: Uses a fibre optic connection to your cabinet and a co-axial cable from the cable in to your home. Offered by Virgin Media. Average speeds of 362Mbit/s or 1Gbit/s (dependent on your plan and area).
  • Full Fibre: Uses a fibre optic connection all the way into your home. Average speeds of 1Gbit/s (plan dependent).
  • 4G Wireless: Uses a 4G wireless connection from the mobile mast to your home broadband router. Average speeds of 15-30Mbit/s.
  • 5G Wireless: Uses a 5G wireless connection from the mobile mast to your home broadband router. Average speeds of 150-250Mbit/s.
Which broadband technology delivers the best speed and reliability?
The gold standard for broadband speed and reliability is provided by full fibre technology (also known as fibre-to-the-home). Today’s full fibre technology offers 1Gbit/s download and upload speed, with the possibility of faster speeds in the future with hardware improvements. It is less susceptible to interference and slowdowns compared to other broadband technology.
How widely available are the different types of home broadband?
The availability of different home broadband technologies in the UK are as follows:
  • ADSL: Available in almost all UK homes, but with variable speeds especially in more rural areas.
  • FTTC: Available in around 90% of UK homes.
  • G.fast: Available in around 4% of UK homes (1 million households).
  • DOCSIS Cable: Available in around 60% of UK homes (17 million households).
  • Full Fibre: Available in around 10% of UK homes (3 million households).
  • 4G Wireless: Available in 99% of UK homes, but with variable speeds especially in busy congested areas.
  • 5G Wireless: Available in more than 70 UK towns and cities.
How does fixed-line broadband compare to wireless broadband?
Traditionally, most home broadband services in the UK have used fixed-line technology where either a phone line or cable runs to your home. This works well for many people though it’s often slow to set up and not that flexible as you’re tied in to a contract. In certain locations, fixed-line broadband can also be slow (e.g. in rural areas or households without access to fibre broadband).

As an alternative to fixed-line broadband, 4G or 5G wireless broadband can be a good option. It’s normally more flexible than fixed-line broadband and may give you better performance in some areas (e.g. in rural areas without slow fixed-line broadband).

Understand Broadband: Different Broadband Types, Speeds & More

Become an expert on home broadband: learn about the different types of broadband and compare broadband speeds in the UK.

Compare Broadband Deals: Best Fibre Broadband Providers In The UK

Unlimited home broadband is currently available on more than 15 UK providers from £17.99/month. Compare the best home broadband deals.

4G Home Broadband: Best 4G Broadband & Hybrid Broadband Deals

Get unlimited 4G home broadband from just £10/month with no need for a phone line. Compare the best 4G home broadband deals.

Switching Broadband Provider: How To Change Broadband Provider In UK

It's easy changing your broadband provider in the UK. Find out how the broadband switching process works in our step-by-step guide.

Compare TV Deals: Best Sport & Entertainment TV Deals In The UK

Compare TV deals and the best value ways of getting access to sport and entertainment.

BT Fibre 1, Fibre 2 & Fibre Essential: BT Broadband Plans Compared

BT offers a choice of Fibre Essential, Fibre 1 and Fibre 2 plans. Find out how the three BT fibre broadband plans compare.

EE Broadband Review: Fibre Broadband With Mobile Benefits

EE offers fibre & full fibre broadband plans. You can unlock £10 unlimited data SIMs with their broadband, plus features like Smart WiFi & WiFi Enhancer.

Hyperoptic Broadband & Hyperhub Router Review: Full Fibre Broadband

Hyperoptic offers full fibre broadband from £17.99/month with download speeds of up to 1Gbps and a Hyperhub router.

NOW Broadband Review: Fab Fibre VS Super Fibre + Optional TV

NOW offers low-cost broadband with a choice of Fab Fibre & Super Fibre plans. There are also optional TV add-ons & no contract plans.

Plusnet Broadband Review: Fibre & Full Fibre Without A Landline

Plusnet's Fibre broadband-only plan gives you the fastest speeds your home can get, with no need for a landline.

Shell Energy Review: Superfast, Ultrafast & Full Fibre Broadband

Shell Energy offers Superfast, Ultrafast & Full Fibre broadband plans with an inclusive Wi-Fi 6 hub.

Sky Broadband Review: Fibre Deals & Sky Broadband Hub Routers

Sky offers Superfast, Ultrafast & Gigafast broadband plans with a choice between the Sky Broadband Hub and Sky Max Hub router.

Sky Signature: What Is It & What Channels Are Included?

Sky Signature is the base television service for Sky Q. It gives you 300+ channels and a range of add-ons like Ultimate TV, Sky Sports, Sky Cinema & more.

TalkTalk Fibre 35, Fibre 65 & Ultrafast Broadband Plans Compared

TalkTalk offers Fibre 35 and Fibre 65 broadband. Compare the two fibre broadband plans, along with TalkTalk's Ultrafast Fibre.

Three Broadband Review: Unlimited 4G & 5G Home Broadband

Three offers unlimited 4G & 5G home broadband with 6 months half price. See how their plans compare.

Virgin Media Review: M50, M125, M250, M350 & M500 Fibre Broadband

Virgin Media offers M50, M125, M250, M350 and M500 fibre broadband plans. Compare Virgin Media's broadband plans.

Vodafone Pro II Broadband: WiFi 6E Hub, Booster & 4G Backup

Vodafone's Pro II Broadband comes with a WiFi 6E Ultra Hub and Booster, giving you reliable WiFi in every room or the ability to leave for free. There's also automatic 4G broadband backup.

Where To Find Free Wi-Fi From BT, O2, The Cloud & Virgin

In the UK, there are four main providers of free public wi-fi: BT Wi-Fi, O2 Wi-Fi, The Cloud and Virgin Media Wi-Fi. Find out how to get access to each of these services.

Your Comments

We'd love to hear your thoughts and any questions you may have. You can add your own comment here.

Leave a Reply