Shell Energy offers Superfast, Ultrafast & Full Fibre broadband plans with an inclusive Wi-Fi 6 hub.
In the UK, Shell Energy is a low-cost home broadband provider with a choice of superfast, ultrafast and full fibre (FTTP) plans. Their plans start from £17.99 per month, with unlimited downloads and an inclusive Wi-Fi hub router. This will be their new Wi-Fi 6 hub if you choose a Superfast or Full Fibre broadband plan.
In this article, we’ll review and compare the broadband plans available from Shell Energy in the UK. We’ll start by looking at the plans they offer, along with the speeds available and and the inclusive Wi-Fi hub router. We’ll also look at how you can switch your broadband provider to Shell.
| Prices From: | £17.99 per month |
|---|---|
| Contract Length: | 18 months |
| Download Speed: | 11Mbps (Fast Broadband) Up to 63Mbps (Superfast Fibre plans) Up to 290Mbps (Ultrafast Fibre plans) Up to 944Mbps (Full Fibre plans) |
| Upload Speed: | 1Mbps (Fast Broadband) Up to 17Mbps (Superfast Fibre plans) Up to 45Mbps (Ultrafast Fibre plans) Up to 112Mbps (Full Fibre plans) |
Contents
Shell Energy Broadband Plans
Shell Energy Broadband is a low-cost home broadband provider with about half a million consumers across the UK.
They currently offer four different types of home broadband plan:
- Fast Broadband: Currently available from £17.99 per month, the oddly-named ‘Fast Broadband’ plan is actually Shell’s slowest broadband service. It uses copper broadband (ADSL) technology to deliver an average download speed of 11Mbps.
- Superfast Fibre: Currently available from £21.99 per month, this uses fibre-to-the-cabinet (FTTC) technology. Depending on the plan you choose, you’ll get an average download speed of either 35Mbps or 63Mbps.
- Ultrafast Fibre: Currently available from £41.99 per month, this uses Gfast technology. Depending on the plan you choose, you’ll get an average download speed of either 145Mbps or 290Mbps.
- Full Fibre: Currently available from £26.99 per month, this uses the latest full fibre (FTTP) broadband technology. You can get average download speeds of up to 944Mbps on full fibre broadband.
The following table shows a side-by-side comparison of the broadband plans from Shell Energy:
| Fast | Superfast Fibre | Ultrafast Fibre | Full Fibre | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Monthly Price: (from) |
£17.99 per month | £21.99 per month | £41.99 per month | £26.99 per month |
| Contract Length: | 18 months | 18 months | 18 months | 18 months |
| Download Speed: (average) |
11Mbps | 38Mbps (Superfast) 67Mbps (Superfast Plus) |
145Mbps (Ultrafast) 290Mbps (Ultrafast Plus) |
109Mbps (Full 100) 207Mbps (Full 200) 311Mbps (Full 300) 525Mbps (Full 500) 944Mbps (Full 900) |
| Upload Speed: (average) |
1Mbps | 9Mbps (Superfast) 17Mbps (Superfast Plus) |
25Mbps (Ultrafast) 45Mbps (Ultrafast Plus) |
20Mbps (Full 100) 30Mbps (Full 200) 48Mbps (Full 300) 73Mbps (Full 500) 112Mbps (Full 900) |
| Technology | ||||
| Technology: | Copper (ADSL) | Fibre-to-the-cabinet | G.fast | Full Fibre (FTTP) |
| Router: | Technicolor TG588v2 | Wi-Fi 6 Hub | Technicolor DWA0120 | Wi-Fi 6 Hub |
| Installation: | Self-setup | Self-setup | Engineer visit | Engineer visit |
| Availability: | 98% of UK homes Check availability → |
91% of UK homes Check availability → |
10% of UK homes Check availability → |
30% of UK homes Check availability → |
Fast Broadband
Shell Energy’s cheapest home broadband plan is known as Fast Broadband. Despite its name, it’s actually their slowest available plan, using copper broadband technology (ADSL) to deliver an average download speed of 11Mbps. This is suitable for everyday browsing and HD-quality streaming on up to two devices at the same time.
Fast Broadband has an average upload speed of 1Mbps. Although this is suitable for browsing and most basic day-to-day usage, it can cause slowdowns when you’re using cloud storage or online backup services. For this reason, we’d typically recommend choosing a fibre-based plan if you’re able to get it where you live.
At present, you’ll pay £17.99 per month for Fast Broadband on a 12-month contract. You’ll also get a landline included with Pay As You Go calls.
| Service | Average Speed | Contract Length | Upfront Price | Monthly Price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
 Fast Broadband | 11Mbps download | 12 month contract | £9.95 | £17.99/month |
See all Shell Fast Broadband Deals →
On Fast Broadband, the speeds you’ll be able to get will depend on the distance between your home and the nearest telephone exchange. For this reason, you should enter your postcode on the Shell Energy website to get a personalised estimate of the download speeds available.
Superfast Fibre
Shell’s Superfast Fibre uses fibre-to-the-cabinet (FTTC) technology to deliver broadband into your home. With this technology, there’s a fibre optic cable that runs to a street cabinet near your home. The final part of the connection is then provided over a traditional copper phone line. Because of this, the speeds are dependent on the distance between the cabinet and your home.
- Superfast Fibre has an average download speed of 38Mbps and an average upload speed of 9Mbps.
- Superfast Fibre Plus has an average download speed of 67Mbps and an average upload speed of 17Mbps.
The following table shows the latest Superfast Fibre deals available from Shell Energy in the UK:
| Service | Average Speed | Contract Length | Upfront Price | Monthly Price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Superfast Fibre | 38Mbps download | 12 month contract | £9.95 | £21.99/month |
Superfast Fibre Plus | 67Mbps download | 12 month contract | £9.95 | £23.99/month |
See all Shell Superfast Fibre Deals →
On Superfast Fibre, you’ll get a home phone service included with Pay As You Go calls.
Ultrafast Fibre
In around 10% of UK homes, it’s possible to get Shell Energy’s ultrafast fibre broadband. This makes use of Gfast technology to deliver average download speeds of up to 290Mbps. An engineer visit is normally required to set up Ultrafast Fibre.
- Ultrafast Fibre has an average download speed of 145Mbps and an average upload speed of 25Mbps.
- Ultrafast Fibre Plus has an average download speed of 290Mbps and an average upload speed of 45Mbps.
At present, you can get Ultrafast Fibre broadband from £41.99 per month on Shell Energy:
| Service | Average Speed | Contract Length | Upfront Price | Monthly Price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Ultrafast Fibre | 145Mbps download | 12 month contract | £9.95 | £41.99/month |
Ultrafast Fibre Plus | 290Mbps download | 12 month contract | £9.95 | £46.99/month |
See all Shell Ultrafast Fibre Deals →
One disadvantage of Ultrafast Fibre is the fact that it’s more expensive than Shell’s other fibre broadband plans. In addition, the download speeds available are dependent on the distance between your home and the nearest Gfast-enabled street cabinet. You’ll also get an older router that only supports up to Wi-Fi 5 technology.
Full Fibre
If you’re looking for full fibre (FTTP) broadband on Shell Energy, there are currently five different plans that you’re able to choose from.
As well as giving you faster download speeds, you’ll get a more reliable connection and lower amounts of latency when you use a full fibre service.
| Service | Average Speed | Contract Length | Upfront Price | Monthly Price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Full Fibre 100 | 109Mbps download | 12 month contract | £9.95 | £26.99/month |
Full Fibre 200 | 207Mbps download | 12 month contract | £9.95 | £29.99/month |
Full Fibre 300 | 311Mbps download | 12 month contract | £9.95 | £40.99/month |
Full Fibre 500 | 525Mbps download | 12 month contract | £9.95 | £43.99/month |
Full Fibre 900 | 944Mbps download | 12 month contract | £9.95 | £45.99/month |
See all Shell Full Fibre Deals →
The full fibre (FTTP) broadband service from Shell Energy is currently available in around 10 million UK homes. Because it uses a fibre optic connection all the way into your home, you’ll get more consistent download speeds than you would on regular fibre. You’ll also get Shell’s latest Wi-Fi 6 Hub included with the service.
Shell Energy Broadband Speeds
In the UK, Shell Energy provides average download speeds of up to 944Mbps and average upload speeds of up to 112Mbps.
The following table shows the average download speeds and average upload speeds available on Shell Energy Broadband, along with the maximum possible speed:
| Shell Energy Plan | Average Download Speed | Average Upload Speed | Maximum Download Speed | Maximum Upload Speed |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fast Broadband | 11Mbps | 1Mbps | 17Mbps | 1Mbps |
| Superfast Fibre | 38Mbps | 9Mbps | 38Mbps | 9.5Mbps |
| Superfast Fibre Plus | 67Mbps | 17Mbps | 76Mbps | 19Mbps |
| Ultrafast Fibre | 145Mbps | 25Mbps | 160Mbps | 25Mbps |
| Ultrafast Fibre Plus | 290Mbps | 45Mbps | 330Mbps | 45Mbps |
| Full Fibre 100 | 109Mbps | 112Mbps | 20Mbps | |
| Full Fibre 200 | 207Mbps | 210Mbps | 30Mbps | |
| Full Fibre 300 | 311Mbps | 314Mbps | 48Mbps | |
| Full Fibre 500 | 525Mbps | 526Mbps | 73Mbps | |
| Full Fibre 900 | 944Mbps | 948Mbps | 112Mbps |
The average speeds advertised by Shell Energy are based on what 50% of customers are able to get during peak usage hours (8pm to 10pm). Meanwhile, the maximum download speed and maximum upload speed is based on a theoretical limit of what is possible with the technology.
In practice, the speeds you’ll actually get will depend on multiple factors relating to your phone line. For copper broadband, it depends on the distance to your nearest telephone exchange. Meanwhile, for Superfast and Ultrafast broadband, the speeds will depend on the distance to the nearest street cabinet. To get a personalised estimate of the speeds available where you live, enter your postcode on the Shell Energy website.
Check Shell Energy Broadband Speed →
Shell Energy Broadband Router
On Shell Energy Broadband, you’ll be provided with a wi-fi router to use with the service. This will produce a wi-fi network for your other devices to connect to. It will also provide you with four Ethernet ports, allowing you to connect wired devices to your home network.
Depending on the broadband plan you choose, you’ll get one of the following routers:
- The Shell Energy Wi-Fi 6 Hub is now provided on all Superfast Fibre and Full Fibre plans. It supports the latest Wi-Fi 6 technology (802.11ax) for improved performance.
- The Technicolor TG588v2 router is provided on Fast Broadband. It’s a fairly basic router with single-band Wi-Fi 4 connectivity, but it should do the job for most basic daily usage.
- The Technicolor DWA0120 router is provided on Ultrafast Fibre. It supports dual-band Wi-Fi 5 connectivity with support for features like beamforming.
The following table shows a side-by-side comparison of the three routers, including detailed technical specifications:
| Shell Energy Wi-Fi 6 | Technicolor TG588v2 | Technicolor DWA0120 | |
|---|---|---|---|
 |
 |
 |
|
| Availability | |||
| Plans: | Superfast Fibre Full Fibre |
Fast Broadband | Ultrafast Fibre |
| Connectivity | |||
| Wi-Fi Connectivity: | Wi-Fi 6 (802.11a/b/g/n/ac/ax) |
Wi-Fi 4 (802.11b/g/n) |
Wi-Fi 5 (802.11a/b/g/n/ac) |
| Dual-Band Wi-Fi: | Yes | No | Yes |
| 2.4GHz Wi-Fi: | 2×2 MIMO | 2×2 MIMO | 2×2 MIMO |
| 5GHz Wi-Fi | 4×4 MIMO | No | 3×3 MIMO |
| Ethernet: | 4 Gigabit Ethernet ports (100Mbps) | 4 Fast Ethernet ports (100Mbps) | 4 Gigabit Ethernet ports (1,000Mbps) |
| Other: | WPA3 / WPA2 security Built-in firewall Wi-Fi Protected Setup (WPS) Guest wi-fi |
WPA2 / WPA security Built-in firewall Wi-Fi Protected Setup (WPS) |
WPA2 / WPA / WEP security Built-in firewall Wi-Fi Protected Setup |
| Other | |||
| Model: | Sagemcom F@st5359 | Technicolor TG588 v2 | Technicolor DWA0120 |
| Colour: | Black | Black | Black |
| Dimensions: | tbc | 13.7 x 12.5 x 3.5 cm | 21.3 x 3.4 x 18.5 cm |
| More Information: | Shell Energy Website | Shell Energy Website | Shell Energy Website |
On Ultrafast Fibre, you’ll also be provided with an Openreach G.fast modem. You’ll need to use this in conjunction with your Technicolor DWA0120 to get access the Ultrafast Broadband service. As part of the installation service for this product, your Openreach engineer will set this up for you.
When you cancel your Shell Energy Broadband service, you’ll need to return your router to Shell. If you don’t, a charge of £35 will be added to your final bill.
Coverage & Availability
In the UK, Shell Energy Broadband is available at most addresses. However, the exact broadband plans available where you live may differ depending on the technologies available:
- Fast Broadband uses ADSL (copper broadband technology). Shell says the average download speed is 11Mbps. However, this can vary substantially, depending on the distance between your home and the nearest telephone exchange.
- Superfast Fibre uses fibre-to-the-cabinet (FTTC) technology. A fibre optic cable runs to a cabinet near your home. The final part of the connection is then provided using a copper phone line. The download speeds available will depend on the distance between your home and the nearest street cabinet.
- Ultrafast Fibre uses G.fast technology. This is a special type of fibre-to-the-cabinet (FTTC) broadband, allowing for faster download speeds as long as you live within 500 meters of the nearest cabinet.
- Full Fibre use fibre-to-the-premises (FTTP) technology. With this, the fibre optic cable goes all the way into your home, delivering the fastest possible speeds.
To see which broadband plans are available at your address, enter your postcode on the Shell Energy Broadband website. You’ll also be shown an estimate of the speeds available where you live.
Check Shell Energy Broadband Availability →
Behind the scenes, Shell Energy Broadband is powered by TalkTalk’s wholesale product.
Switching to Shell Energy Broadband
If you’re switching from another broadband provider to Shell Energy Broadband, it’s easy to do this.
Start by ordering your new Shell Energy Broadband plan online. During the online order process, you’ll be given a switchover date for your new broadband service (typically in around two weeks time). Whilst you’re waiting for the switchover to happen, you’ll continue receiving a service from your old provider.
On the go-live date for your new Shell Energy home broadband service, you’ll need to plug in the router from Shell Energy. This will complete the switchover of your service. Normally, your old broadband service will be cancelled for you automatically. However, if you’re a Virgin Media customer, you’ll need to contact them directly to cancel your old service.
For step-by-step instructions on how to switch your broadband provider to Shell Energy, please select your current provider from the drop-down menu below:
Switch to Shell Energy
Your step-by-step guide to switching
For more information, see our full guide to switching broadband providers in the UK.
More Information
For more information about Shell Energy Broadband, please see the official Shell Energy website.
Steve said:
Moved from Sky to Shell Broadband, 1st mistake. Connected to Shell only to find a WEAK SECURITY message on WI-FI. Contacted Shell to be told there router network is secure.
Asked to cancel, to be told I would have to pay a early termination fine of over a £100. Only been with them 2 days.
Jim said:
Finding it difficult to find any information on power consumption of the Technicolor TG588v2 router- do you know?
Mike said:
I am concerned at the above post because I have similar feelings about the scam way Shell Energy Broadband works. Especially the crafty “14” day grace that is being used up before we customers get to find out how well their service performs!
I have been a “Fast Broadband” customer for a 12 month (having used First Utility scheme before) and have struggled to reach 8 to 8.8 mbs download speed using my ethernet conected fast PC. So I seriously challenge the claim of “an average of 11mbs”. It is just not happening and my area has fibre to the cabinet 200 yards away down our road! I recently agreed to a price increase on the monthly rental and call plan from Shell in return for “Superfast Fibre Broadband” of 35mbs download, with a claimed average speed of 29.24mbs download speed (which is considerably lower than 35mbs!! So why make such a misleading claim? is that legal?) They were going to advise me when the change happened. They did not do so except to send me a bill showing the new charge being deducted!
Well, I now have their new cheap router reffered to above which still gives poor internal wi’fi like the earlier one and I am still only getting 8,8 to 9 mbs download speed according to several reliable test sites. So be wary of Shell’s Broadband sales pitches and especially their “Go” motoring benefit. Their fuel prices are the costliest and the other rewards in the scheme are aimed at travelling sales people etc who frequently by other goods at Shell service stations.! I expect Shell will blame my home set-up and not their cheap, low tech router and poor fibre service – there is always a get out. We just cannot trust any ISP’s these days – especially if you cannot afford to pay £50 pcm for their service, All the claims are exagerated beyond what is actually achievable. So I see it all as a scam industry charging inflated prices for little return in quality of service. Consumers beware!
Beverley replied:
Hi MIke
Thank youu for your comments because been reading all about shell broadband and worried my current provider moving all customer over to shell which not happy this month. Decided do not want to go with company i will not receive any benefits which they tell me do not go shell garage would not take there energy and never dealt or order from amazon Other people warned about not to go with see all terms conditions which do not like no way will be able to afford their dear broadband charges another not like still have 6 months contract left going see if get out before it ends and again thank you for information you have given