Worst street for broadband is almost 2,000 TIMES slower than the best
The average broadband speed in the UK is 46.2Mbps but just over a quarter (26 per cent) of homes struggle with speeds of less than 10Mbps
THE UK's worst street for broadband speed is almost 2,000 times slower than the fastest, an annual survey has found.
According to research by uSwitch, Greenmeadows Park in Cheltenham, Gloucestershire has average downloads speeds of just 0.14 megabits per second (Mbps).
This means residents need to set aside more than 102 hours to download a two-hour HD film on Netflix and at least 38 hours to download a 45-minute HD TV show.
That's 1,899 times slower than Abdon Avenue in Birmingham, which boasts the fastest speeds in the UK at 265.89Mbps.
Residents living in this road would need less than four minutes to download the same film and just 72 seconds to download the same TV show.
The average speed in the UK is 46.2Mbps, but the comparison website has found that just over a quarter (26 per cent) of homes struggle with speeds of less than 10Mbps and one in eight (13 per cent) crawl along below 5Mbps.
Boost your broadband speed
HERE are some top tips to boost your broadband speed from telecoms regulator Ofcom:
- Carry out a speed test using Ofcom accredited price comparison sites , and
- Talk to your broadband provider if there are problems in the first instance
- Update your web browser to the latest version
- Keep your router as far away as possible from other electrical devices that emit wireless signals, such as cordless phones and baby monitors as these can effect signal
- If you have an old router, consider upgrading it
- Password protect your broadband - if neighbours are accessing your wifi it could be slowing your speeds down
- Use an ethernet cable to connect your computer or laptop directly to the router rather than using wifi
- Plug your router directly into your home's main phone socket - extension leads can cause interference
- Fit a broadband acclerator to boost speeds
It show how speeds are still a "postcode lottery" depending on where you live in the country.
uSwitch says there are a number of different reasons why speeds vary - it could be that you're in an area where superfast fibre broadband isn't available or that you're in an area where it is available but you haven't realised you can get it.
The Government says 95 per cent of home have access to super fast broadband - speeds of 24Mbps or more.
For others, it can be that their home is too far from the broadband exchange in their street, while some may simply have their routers in a place in the home where the signal is getting blocked.
Dani Warner, broadband spokeswoman at uSwitch.com, said: "This research lays bare the extent of the UK's digital divide.
"Streets that are relatively close geographically can be light years apart when it comes to the download speeds they are getting.
“Awareness of fibre broadband availability continues to be the biggest hurdle to people getting faster download speeds.
"Over a third of the slowest streets have access to superfast speeds, so people living there have no need to be crawling along on completely unusable internet services.
";The industry should be doing more to help consumers understand what sort of broadband they can get at home."
More on money
It's been revealed this week that broadband customers will get £8-a-day automatic compensation for lost connection.
Thousands of Sky fibre customers found out just over a month ago that they will get a free internet speed upgrade.
Plus, here's how you can save up to £400 per year by slashing broadband and phone line costs.
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