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Cheer on the Lionesses at the UEFA Women's Euro 2022 and give buffering the red card - Uswitch tips to avoid streaming lag

This Wednesday sees the start of the UEFA Women's EURO 2022, where the England squad will compete to win their first international trophy on home soil under manager Sarina Wiegman.

The Lionesses are one of the favourites for the month-long tournament, which will also feature reigning champions The Netherlands and sees Northern Ireland making their competition debut.  

With 31 games available to stream live online, football fans should look to get the most out of their broadband connection so they don’t experience a fate worse than a VAR verdict - buffering.  

Here are some tips from Uswitch.com to make sure you don’t miss a kick.  

  1. Tackle crowd trouble: If your broadband is being used for multiple tasks while you’re sitting down to watch a match, it can put a strain on your bandwidth, which may lead to the screen becoming pixelated and potential freezes in the action. To avoid this, make sure you pause other data-heavy activities like downloads or system backups.

  2. Video replay: The BBC has rights to broadcast all 31 matches during the tournament, so the chances are, you’ll be using its catch-up system iPlayer to see highlights and replays. While most programmes are available to stream on-demand, you stand a better chance of avoiding any buffering glitches by downloading matches to your device to watch offline. High definition (HD) offers crisper footage, but be aware, it takes longer to download and uses up more memory than standard definition (SD).    

  3. Router formation: If you struggle with online connection problems, your router should be your first port of call. Check all the lights are on and perform a reset if there is any error on the Wi-Fi display. If the system doesn’t start working, contact your provider to see if there is a network issue. More generally, your router will perform at its best in the centre of your home, unobstructed by furniture or large objects and plugged directly into a main socket instead of an extension lead. 

  4. Tactical update: Before a ball has been kicked, do a quick check of any devices you are planning to watch the tournament on and make sure you are running the latest software. While it shouldn’t take long to download a Smart TV update or get the latest mobile versions of Android or iOS, leave yourself at least 20 minutes if you’re planning to install a new version of Windows or macOS.

  5. Trim your squad of apps and tabs: If you’re planning to watch games on your computer, phone or tablet, beware of background processes that can use up bandwidth and throttle your speed. Close any needless tabs or apps that could be running, and delete any temporary cache files that might be clogging up your device.     

  6. Explore the transfer market: If you experience regular issues with screen freezes and buffering, you could benefit from switching to a faster broadband deal, especially if your usage has increased since you took out your last contract. The growing number of internet-enabled devices means households with standard connection speeds of 10-11Mbps may find their internet struggling under the strain. If you’re out of contract or near the end of your current plan, visit a comparison website to see what offers are available. The price gap between fibre, superfast and standard broadband has shrunk significantly, so you may find you can get far higher speeds on a new deal without your bills rising.  


Catherine Hiley, broadband expert at Uswitch.com, comments: “With the BBC showing all the games from this year’s Euro 2022, and England tipped as potential winners, there’s likely to be a big boost in football fans streaming the tournament live or watching on iPlayer. 

“But there’s nothing more frustrating than missing a goal or a penalty because your broadband has bottled it. 

“If you’re on a basic package and it’s been a while since you took out your last deal, you may find offers on superfast or fibre internet will make a great substitute.

“Thousands of broadband contracts are due to end this July due to a spike in broadband deals taken out in the January sales during lockdown 2021 - so it’s important those customers remember to shop around for a new deal to avoid rolling on to expensive out-of-contract prices.”

FOR MORE INFORMATION

Rianna York
Phone: 07817 083 280
Email: rianna.york@rvu.co.uk
Twitter: @UswitchPR

About Uswitch 

Uswitch is one of the UK’s top comparison websites for home services switching, including broadband, mobiles, SIM Only and insurance. We’ve saved consumers over £2.5 billion off their bills since we launched in September 2000.

In 2022, Uswitch launched its free mobile app, Utrack, to help consumers manage their home energy costs. By connecting to their smart meter, users can track their energy usage hourly, get dynamic insights and calculate potential savings with handy tips. 

Uswitch is part of RVU, a global group of online brands with a mission to empower consumers to make more confident home services, insurance and financial decisions.