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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.

Broadband and moving house - how to set up your internet

Your guide to moving your broadband connection to your new house. Here's what to consider when moving, including whether or not you should switch to a new one.

Read our broadband guide to moving home

What are the best wireless routers?

Guide to the best broadband routers in the UK. Find the best router for coverage across major providers like BT, Virgin Media, Sky and others.

Read our guide to Wi-Fi routers

How to set up parental controls for your child online

Parental controls are one of the easiest, most effective methods to keep your kids safe online. Find out what they can do and how you can set them up.

Read our parental controls guide

How to boost your Wi-Fi throughout your home: Wi-Fi extenders explained

Are there spots in your home where you can't connect to the internet? See how a Wi-Fi booster can improve your internet speed.

Read our Wi-Fi boosters guide

How to get broadband without a landline - Uswitch

Want broadband without a phone line? It's now easier than ever to get broadband without a landline frm many of the UK's major broadband providers.

Read our broadband with no landline guide

How to self-install your broadband connection

For times when an engineer can't visit your home to install your new broadband, here's how you can do it yourself.

Here's how to self-install your broadband

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 so you can decide what's best for your needs.

Read our business vs home broadband guide

Which smart home devices should I buy?

Smart homes can make your house secure and your household chores a breeze. Here are the smart home gadgets you should consider buying...

Read our smart home devices guide

How to change your Wi-Fi password

You don't have to keep the Wi-Fi password set by your broadband provider. Follow our step-by-step instructions on how to change your Wi-Fi password to something secure and easy to remember.

How to change your Wi-Fi password

Broadband basics

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

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 about broadband.

Read our guide to broadband

History of the internet: a timeline throughout the years

The history of broadband from the '70s until today. From dial-up to broadband, read up on developments in broadband over time.

Read our history of the internet article

Bits and bytes explained — a guide to internet connection speeds

Knowing the difference between bits and bytes is key to understanding broadband download times and figuring out what broadband speed you need.

Read our bits and bytes guide

How to stay safe online — a guide to internet security

Find out all the best ways you can stay safe while using the internet, from antivirus software to avoid fraudulent scams.

Read our online safety guide

What is a wireless router?

Read our guide to wireless routers to find out how to set them up and how they get your home connected to the internet.

Read our guide to Wi-Fi routers

Five important details to look for in your broadband bill

Find out the key details to be aware of in your next broadband bill, so you can avoid price hikes and unwanted fees.

Read our guide to broadband bills

What is a "Fair Usage Policy"?

Wondering what a fair usage policy is? Read our guide to broadband fair usage policies, including unlimited broadband and fair usage policies.

Read our fair usage policy guide

What is an IP address?

What is an IP address? How do I find my IP address? Find out these answers and more about IP addresses in our Uswitch guide to IP address.

Read our guide to IP addresses

Broadband speeds

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

What broadband speed do I need for streaming?

The amount of broadband speed you need to stream depends on which platforms you use, what quality you stream in and how many people are in your household.

Read our broadband for streaming guide

Download time calculator | Check your internet speed

Understanding broadband speeds and download times has never been easier with our download speed calculator. Find out real download times based on your broadband speed with this guide.

Read more about broadband download times

What is gigabit internet?

The next big step in home broadband is the introduction of gigabit internet speeds across the UK. But just how useful is gigabit internet and do you need it?

Read our guide to gigabit broadband

What broadband speed do I need? - Uswitch

Take a look at our guide to broadband speed guide — find out what speeds you have available in your area and how to deal with slow broadband speed.

Read our guide to broadband speeds

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 upload speeds, and why symmetrical broadband is the future.

Read our guide to upload speeds

Can you get ultrafast internet speeds? - Uswitch

Unsure if you need ultrafast broadband? Here’s how to get the some of the fastest broadband speeds available at the best price, and which provider is best for you.

Read our ultrafast broadband guide

Getting the most out of your broadband when working from home

With many of us working from home at least part of the time, there are a few things you can do to make sure you’re getting the most out of your broadband.

Read our broadband guide to working from home

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 Friday? Take a look at our speed calculator for all the different devices on offer this November.

Read our Black Friday broadband speed guide

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 broadband — can you upgrade your connection too?

Find out the slowest streets in the UK

How to find good Wi-Fi on the tube

The London Underground has a surprisingly good network of Wi-Fi hubs at stations throughout the city. We created a new tube map with the average Wi-Fi speeds available.

Read our guide to tube Wi-Fi

Solving problems with your broadband

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

How to complain to your broadband provider

From price rise woes, to annoying connection dropouts, to poor customer service, here's how to complain about your broadband to your internet service provider.

Read our broadband complaints guide

Your guide to internet connection problems

Having internet connection problems? Here are a few pointers to help you identify the source of your broadband connection problems and get back online.

Read our internet connection problems guide

A guide to video calling online

Video calls have become a standard practice in most of our lives. Here's how to get the most from your broadband and improve your video call quality.

Read our guide to video calls

Broadband outage in the UK | What to do when your broadband goes down

What happens when your broadband goes down? What can you do about it? And how long will you be offline? Here's how to deal with an internet outage.

Read out broadband outages guide

Broadband social tariffs for universal credit and low incomes - Uswitch

If you're on Universal Credit or receiving other financial benefits, you can find a much cheaper broadband deal with these providers.

Read our guide on broadband social tariffs

Why is my internet so slow? - Uswitch

Here are all the things that could be causing your internet to slow down, and what you can do to fix it.

Read our guide to improving internet speed

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 compensation. Find out what you're entitled to and how to claim quickly and easily.

Read our guide to broadband compensation

Broadband price rises

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

How to save money on your broadband bill - Uswitch

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

Read our saving money on broadband tips

EE broadband price rise 2024: what can you do? | Uswitch

EE is hiking prices by 7.9% for nearly every customer from 31 March 2024. Find out what you can do if you’re an EE broadband customer.

Read more about EE broadband price rises

Broadband price rises in 2024 explained - Uswitch

Broadband prices gone up mid-contract? Learn why prices have increased by as much as 8.8% in 2024, and what you can do about it if you're affected.

Read our broadband price rises guide

Plusnet price increase 2024: what can customers do? - Uswitch

Almost all Plusnet customers will have seen their prices go up by 7.9% in 2024. If you’re with Plusnet, find out what you can do about it.

Read more about Plusnet price rises

TalkTalk price increase 2024: what can you do? - Uswitch

TalkTalk raised its prices for almost all customers by 7.7% in 2024. Here's what you can do if you're affected by the price hike.

Read more about TalkTalk price rises

BT price increase 2024: what can customers do? - Uswitch

BT increased its prices by 7.9% for millions of its customers in Spring 2024. Learn all the facts and figures you need to know.

Read more about BT price rises

Sky broadband and TV price hike 2024 - what can you do?

Sky has announced a price hike of 6.7% for millions of customers in 2024. Find out if you can leave your contract early as a result of this price increase.

Read more about Sky price rises

Vodafone broadband price increase 2024: what can customers do?

Vodafone increased its broadband prices by 7.9% for most customers in Spring 2024. Find out what you can do if you’re affected.

Read more about Vodafone broadband price rises

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 you can do if you were impacted by the price rise.

Read more about Virgin Media price rises

Mobile broadband

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

What is 5G home broadband?

5G home broadband could provide you with download speeds well over 200Mbps, all without the need for a landline or an engineer visit to get you setup.

Read our 5G broadband guide

Vodafone GigaCube 5G broadband review

We reviewed Vodafone's 5G broadband service, GigaCube, to see if 5G speeds can really be achieved at home. See what it could mean for the future of broadband...

Read our Vodafone GigaCube review

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, and which type of mobile broadband is right for you.

Read our MiFi mobile broadband guide

How to use a mobile internet dongle - Uswitch

Wondering what is a broadband dongle? Want to ask what is a USB mobile broadband stick? Read the Uswitch guide to mobile broadband dongles, plus compare dongles.

Read our guide to mobile internet dongles

Broadband providers

Our latest news and advice on broadband providers.

Altnet broadband providers: how to get cheap full fibre

Altnets are smaller broadband providers offering full fibre-only deals. Find out why they're on the rise and see if there are any in your area.

Read our guide to altnet providers

Which broadband provider has the best customer service?

Using the latest data from Ofcom, see which broadband provider is best for customer service and find what to look out for when choosing your next package.

Read our broadband customer service guide

How to get Volt benefits from Virgin Media O2 - Uswitch

What benefits do you get for being a Virgin Media broadband and O2 mobile customer? Find out with our detailed guide on Volt.

Read our guide to Volt benefits

The best value for money broadband providers in the UK

See which providers offer the fastest speeds for the cheapest prices, and find out what else you should look out for to find great value.

Read our value for money guide

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 able to keep your email address if you switch providers. Here's how.

Read our guide to keeping your email

How to contact your broadband provider - Uswitch

Here's how to contact your broadband provider if you need to cancel, change your services, or enquire about billing or faults.

Read our guide to contacting your provider

Your guide to UK broadband providers

Get up-to-date info on your broadband supplier and browse the different options available to you with this guide.

Read our guide to broadband providers

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.

How to choose broadband - find the right broadband package

Want to know how to choose broadband? Uswitch explains what to look for in our quick guide on choosing the best type of broadband for you and your household.

Read our guide to choosing the right deal

How to switch broadband - a guide to changing your provider

Want to switch your broadband service? Here's how to do it all, from finding the speed you need to choosing the right provider and deal for you.

Read our guide on switching broadband

Six broadband switching myths — busted

What's keeping people from switching to a better broadband service? We found six myths surrounding the whole process that are absolutely not true!

Read our broadband switching myths guide

How to get the best Black Friday & Cyber Monday broadband deals

The Black Friday and Cyber Monday weekend is a great time to buy a cheaper broadband deal. Here are our tips on how to find a good Black Friday internet package.

Read our Black Friday broadband guide

How to claim your broadband vouchers, gift cards and reward cards after you switch

Broadband providers often offer gift vouchers or reward cards when you switch, here's how to claim your broadband vouchers so you don't miss out.

Read our guide to broadband vouchers

How to recycle your broadband router

Reduce waste and save on extra costs by recycling or returning your old broadband router and digital TV equipment. Here's what each provider will and won't recycle.

Read our recycling router guide

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.

How to set up Nintendo Switch parental controls - Uswitch

Here's how to set up Nintendo Switch parental controls if you're looking to keep your children safe online – even when they're using family-friendly consoles like the Switch.

Read more about Switch parental controls

How to set up parental controls on Xbox consoles - Uswitch

Keep your children safe online by setting up Xbox parental controls that restrict screen time, access to mature content and communication with strangers.

Read our Xbox parental controls guide

The best broadband for gaming UK 2024 - Uswitch

Whether you're a casual gamer or a pro, fast and reliable broadband can make all the difference. Here are the deals you should compare for gaming.

Read our broadband for gaming guide

What is Apple Arcade?

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

Read our Apple Arcade guide

Best games console for kids 2023: top family consoles - Uswitch

If you're looking to buy a console for your kids, there's a lot to consider, such as prices, security and the number of child-friendly games. So which is the best games console for children?

Read our best consoles for kids guide

Best upcoming game releases 2023 - Uswitch

Find out the best and most anticipated game releases such as Final Fantasy XVI and Legend of Zelda for Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 5, Xbox and PC in 2023.

See which video games are upcoming

Lag, ping and latency in online gaming - Uswitch

What's the difference between lag, ping and latency, and how will it affect your online gaming experience?

Read our guide to gaming latency

160 video gaming terms, words and slang explained - Uswitch

New to gaming? We’ve got you covered with Uswitch’s must-know gaming terminology glossary. 160 of the most common gaming terms, words and slang explained.

Read our gaming glossary guide

Xbox cloud gaming: everything you need to know

Want to get access to a huge library of gaming to try out and play wherever you have an internet connection? Here's everything you need to know about Xbox cloud gaming.

Read our Xbox cloud gaming guide

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 Twitch, one of the best game streaming sites, lets you stream gameplay to followers.

Read our guide to cloud gaming

How to set up PlayStation parental controls - Uswitch

Set up parental controls on PlayStation 5 and PlayStation 4 to keep your kids safe online, prevent them from spending money or communicating with strangers.

Read more about PlayStation parental controls

Video game genres: every game type explained - Uswitch

With thousands of video games already available, and countless more released each year, how do you decide which ones to get? Find out more about each video game genre and which is right for you.

Read our guide to video game genres

Types of broadband connections

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.

What is superfast broadband? - Uswitch

Don't know what superfast broadband is? Read our guide to find out what it is and how to choose the right superfast broadband deal.

Read our superfast broadband guide

Fibre broadband | How does fibre optic broadband work?

How does fibre-optic broadband work? Which fibre broadband package is right for me? Do you need a phone line? Take a look at our guide.

Read our fibre broadband guide

What is cable broadband?

Think cable broadband is the same thing as fibre? Think again. Read on to learn more about what cable broadband is and how it's different from fibre.

Read our cable broadband guide

What is full fibre broadband? - Uswitch

Full fibre is the fastest type of broadband in the UK. Find out all you need to know about full fibre broadband, and whether it’s available at your home.

Read our guide to full fibre

The different types of broadband in the UK - Uswitch

Find out all about the different broadband connections available in the UK, and which ones would be best for you and your household.

Read our different types of broadband guide

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 about satellite broadband, plus what Elon Musk's Starlink could mean for the future of broadband altogether.

Learn all about satellite broadband

What is ADSL broadband?

Want to know how ADSL broadband works? Read Uswitch's quick guide to ADSL broadband. Find out what ADSL broadband is, how ADSL broadband works and who can get ADSL broadband.

Read our ADSL broadband guide

Broadband studies

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

UK Online Streaming Statistics 2024 - Uswitch

We’ve collated the definitive UK online streaming statistics page for 2024 with the most up-to-date Netflix, Amazon Prime, and YouTube data.

Learn more

200+ UK Fibre Broadband Statistics 2024 - Fibre Broadband Facts & Stats Report | Uswitch.com

Which UK region is the best for full fibre broadband? We’ve compiled over 200 fibre broadband statistics covering fibre availability, download speeds, and more.

Learn more

Parent’s Guide to PEGI Ratings and Gaming for Kids - Uswitch.com

We reveal the best child-friendly games, as well as help parents to decipher PEGI age ratings and content descriptors.

Learn more

UK Broadband Speed Statistics 2023

This page includes relevant broadband speed statistics for 2023, such as UK broadband download speeds, which region has the fastest internet, and the national average broadband speed.

Learn more

UK Broadband Access Statistics 2023

Click here to find the latest UK broadband access statistics for 2023, covering fibre broadband access, usage reports, urban vs. rural broadband, and more.

Learn more

UK Broadband Statistics 2023 - Broadband Facts and Stats Report

The latest UK fibre broadband statistics for 2023, covering fibre broadband access, usage, speed, cost, and more.

Learn more

How to stay safe online if you’re LGBTQ+

Access to online resources is vital to many in the LGBTQ+ community, whether that's social groups, travel tips or legal advice. But access to LGBTQ+ content varies widely worldwide.

Read our LGBTQ+ online safety guide

Online Gaming Statistics 2023 Report - Online Gaming Facts and Stats

We’ve collated the latest online gaming statistics for 2023, covering UK gamer demographics, gaming revenue statistics, the most played video games of 2022, and more.

Learn more

Online Learning Index

We have analysed 50 UK universities on factors such as the number of online courses and university ratings, to reveal the best universities for online study.

Learn more

Video Game Value

We’ve analysed the world’s biggest video games to reveal the most expensive games, the highest earning companies and how game prices have changed over time.

Learn more

Gaming trend report

We have analysed the world’s biggest games to reveal 2022's most anticipated and most popular games, the most underrated and overrated games, and more.

Learn more

The best value broadband connection in the US

We reveal the US states home to the best value-for-money broadband, as well as the areas with the lowest access to fibre optic broadband.

Learn more

Piracy Report

Uswitch reveals which TV shows, movies, games and software are the most pirated and the effects this has on industries and personal data.

Learn more

Every Country’s Favourite Foreign Football Team

As so many of us watch live football from around the world, discover which foreign teams are the world’s most searched on this global football map from Uswitch.

Learn more

Global Streaming Index

We reveal the best value streaming services across the world, based on the average price per subscription and number of films and TV shows available.

Learn more

Successful Movie Sequels

Can a movie sequel ever be as good as the original? We reveal the best and worst movies from 20 of the highest-grossing movie franchises.

Learn more

The most and least child friendly apps

Uswitch finds the most and least child friendly apps according to data tracking.

Learn more

Global Broadband Index

Where in the world has the best broadband? We reveal the countries with the fastest and cheapest broadband.

Learn more

Hollywood’s most successful movie production companies of all time revealed

We analysed 700 films from the 20 most profitable movie production companies to reveal which produces the best films.

Learn more

Revealed: The World’s Best Virtual School Trips

From art to history, here are the most educational virtual tours to take when you can’t go outdoors.

Read our virtual school trips study

Which nationalities cheat the most at video games

Many people use video game cheat codes to boost their chances of winning, but which nation is home to the biggest cheaters? We did the research to find out.

Learn more

The online fraud report

The online fraud report from Uswitch.com reveals how much money people have lost to card fraud, eCommerce transactions and online scams.

Learn more