How to boost your broadband speed

Dan Howdle • October 16th, 2024

Slow broadband or Wi-Fi can be a tricky problem to pin down. Is it your provider? Is it a fault? Or are there aspects of the way it is set up that mean you're not getting the best speed available?

It could be any number of things, and depending on what it is, it could also have a number of solutions. In this guide, we will take you through exactly how to figure out where the problem is, and then how to address it.

Why is my broadband slow?

If your broadband is performing below your expectations – whether the speeds you're measuring don't match those promised, or you’re experiencing slow downloads and a lot of buffering during streamed movies and TV shows – there are essentially three different points where the problem might exist. They are…

1. You're not on the fastest package available

This may seem obvious, but a very small proportion of households subscribe to the fastest package available to them. This is most likely due to cost, although the increase in price from one speed to the next is usually fairly small. You may well find your existing provider can offer you a faster package, and with Full Fibre services now available from many providers like BT, Sky, TalkTalk, and Vodafone, faster speeds are more accessible than ever.

You can use our broadband postcode checker to find out what packages and speeds are available where you live and compare pricing, features, and more.

2. You live a long way from your nearest cabinet or exchange

All widely-available providers, apart from Virgin Media, operate on the Openreach network. Openreach still runs an FTTC (fibre-to-the-cabinet) network alongside its newer Full Fibre network, and with Standard Fibre/FTTC the further you are from your nearest cabinet, the slower your broadband will be. However, if you have Full Fibre (FTTP), your connection goes directly to your home, bypassing copper altogether, and the distance no longer matters.

That means upgrading to Full Fibre, even if you opt for a similar speed to the one you already have, may speed up your broadband all on its own.

3. The way your broadband is set up in your home is sub-optimal

There are a number of factors related to how and where your broadband router is set up that can affect the speeds you get on the devices around your home. We will talk about those in greater detail a bit further down, but for now, bear in mind that the layout of your home, your neighbours' Wi-Fi networks, and your router's placement can all affect speeds.

How to check where the problem is

So, how do you know where the problem is exactly, if all you really know is that, for example, your smartphone speed test app is telling you your speed is a lot slower than what you thought you were paying for? Here are the steps you need to take:

• If you're not on the fastest package – Check your broadband contract to see what speed you are subscribed to. If you're already on your provider's top speed (usually 70Mbps or higher), you may want to check if you can switch to Full Fibre from any of the major providers, or Virgin Media.
• If you live far from your nearest cabinetand you're not on Full Fibre – If your broadband is slower than expected or advertised, and there's no fault, you likely live far from the cabinet. You can contact your provider, who will test your line and give you an estimate of the speeds you should be getting. Keep in mind that this may differ from the advertised average, and is moot if you have Full Fibre where you should always be getting the speeds advertised.
• If your broadband is set up sub-optimally – Provided you know what speed you should be getting, and your provider has confirmed you're receiving those speeds, if you're not getting that speed on the device you're using, there's an issue with your home setup. See the next section for more details on this.
• If there is a fault – If your broadband speed suddenly drops without explanation, it's likely due to a fault. Contact your provider to get it resolved.

How to boost your broadband speed

Assuming you're on the fastest connection available to you, that there isn't a fault, and that you don't live far from your nearest cabinet, your broadband speed issues are likely due to how your broadband is set up. Here are some things to consider:

Use an Ethernet cable wherever possible

Many people don't know this, but Wi-Fi is slower compared to a wired connection, and the problem becomes more evident the bigger the gap between your speed and the technology used by your router and devices. For example, a 1Gbps connection with a Wi-Fi 5 router isn't a great match as you'll be lucky to see even half that speed to a single device. And conversely, a 100Mbps connection doesn't need some Wi-Fi 7 mega-router to distribute all of that speed over the airwaves.

An Ethernet cable ensures the best speeds for your computer, laptops, and other devices, and allows you to properly measure the speed you're getting to your router without the complication added by Wi-Fi.

Try a different channel on your router

Routers operate on different frequencies, known as 'channels'. Slow Wi-Fi can be caused by your router operating on the same frequency as your neighbours' routers. Many routers have an 'auto' setting that chooses the best channel, but it doesn't always get it right. Manually changing channels can improve your speed. Check your router's manual or look online for instructions specific to your model.

Minimise interference

Several factors in your home can cause interference or outright block your Wi-Fi signal. While you can't always control these things, here's what to look out for:

• Your neighbours' networks – In close proximity, Wi-Fi networks compete for space in the airwaves, causing interference and slower speeds
• Other wireless networks in your home – More than one network in your home can interfere with each other
• Bluetooth devices – Bluetooth uses different frequencies, but interference can still occur
• Baby monitors and radios – Devices like baby monitors can cause interference if they're on the same spectrum as your Wi-Fi
• Microwave ovens – When turned on, microwaves can disrupt Wi-Fi signals passing through the area
• Fairy lights – During the holidays, if you notice slower Wi-Fi, it could be due to your fairy lights interfering with the signal
• Thick walls or floors – Thick masonry or metal floors can block Wi-Fi signals or weaken them substantially
• Underfloor heating – Metal wiring in underfloor heating can block Wi-Fi signals from passing through to the next room