What broadband can I get in Cambridge?

From full fibre to gigabit and 5G broadband, Cambridge has access to a variety of great deals. With median download speeds of 154Mbps (according to the Fair Internet Report), Cambridge sits well above the national average.

However, despite good coverage of fast, reliable broadband across Cambridge, the availability of different types of broadband can still change depending on where you live. That’s why it’s important to compare packages from a range of providers to find those that suit various budgets and needs. Whatever your requirements, we’ll help you find the best broadband in Cambridge.

Guide: What broadband speed do I need?

Does Cambridge have full fibre broadband?

Cambridge is home to a number of different full fibre networks, with strong coverage of this fast, reliable broadband across the city. Unlike most UK cities, Cambridge has more coverage from alternative full fibre networks than it is by Openreach’s full fibre network - which has the largest fibre-to-the-premises (FTTP) footprint in the country.

The majority of full fibre connections across Cambridge are supplied by CityFibre, which is the largest alternative broadband network in the UK. Openreach still boasts the widest part-fibre coverage in the city by far, but its FTTP availability is less widespread than in other major cities.

Still, like many major cities, full fibre has more availability in Cambridge than the national average figure, so it’s quite likely your home could get it in some form.

Can I get 5G broadband in Cambridge?

5G broadband is available in Cambridge, but it's not without limitation. 5G coverage on mobile networks is not yet comprehensive across the city, meaning that the availability of 5G broadband can vary drastically between postcodes.

Whilst 5G broadband might be a viable solution for some households in Cambridge, a traditional broadband connection would be the most practical option for the majority. Although 5G broadband is capable of fast speeds, it's typically less reliable than a traditional connection, unless you have a good indoor 5G connection.

Here is how 5G mobile coverage looks in Cambridge for each of the big UK mobile networks:

EE: EE boasts very strong indoor 5G coverage in most central parts of Cambridge. Areas that may struggle for indoor 5G connection include eastern Cambridge and in the north west around Eddington.
Vodafone: Patchy 5G coverage in general in Cambridge - the only areas with good indoor 5G signal are east of the main city near the airport and Teversham.
O2: O2 doesn’t specifically show how good its indoor 5G signal is on its coverage map, but it at least boatss good 5G signal in most parts of the city. Areas where you will definitely struggle for 5G connection include near Cambridge train station, near Kettle’s Yard and western areas close to the M11.
Three: Three only has a few pockets of good indoor 5G signal in Cambridge - central areas near Bridge Street and Chesterton Road, areas of Petersfield and thr surrounding neighbourhoods of Hills Road in the south.

What is 5G home broadband?

Which broadband providers are available in Cambridge?

The majority of the UK’s major providers are represented in Cambridge. Here's a summary of providers offering the best broadband deals in Cambridge.

Virgin Media

Virgin Media is the most popular broadband provider in Cambridge. It offers the best median speeds of 137Mbps with ultrafast packages (available at many postcodes) reaching lightning speeds of over 1Gpbs.

BT

As the UK's largest broadband provider, BT offers various deals with average speeds of up to 74Mbps widely available across the country.

Thanks to Cambridge's recent extensive full fibre rollout, BT now offers ultrafast speeds exceeding 900Mbps at many addresses across the city.

Sky

Sky is another popular Cambridge broadband provider. With competitively priced superfast broadband averaging speeds of 61Mbps, ultrafast packages available, and bundle deals including 150+ premium sports and cinema channels, Sky is an excellent choice for many households.

Vodafone

Vodafone is an excellent option for affordable full fibre Wi-Fi. It shares full fibre broadband services across both the Openreach and CityFibre networks, depending on which one is available to you.

Alternative broadband providers in Cambridge

There are a range of smaller full fibre providers, known as ‘altnets’, that offer services in a more limited capacity across areas of Cambridge. Here are where they have some availability across the city:

4th Utility: Small pockets of coverage in central Cambridge.
Cambridge Fibre: Good coverage across many central areas and in the north of the city in Milton.
CityFibre: Available across most areas of the city including parts of Milton - no coverage in areas in the west with lots of student housing, or in parts near Cambridge City Airport.
Grain Connect: A small pocket of full fibre coverage in Barnwell.
Hyperoptic: Good availability in central Cambridge, plus in parts of Orchard Park, Trumpington and Cherry Hinton.

Guide: Altnet broadband providers explained

Our broadband expert says

“All major providers, including Virgin Media, Sky, and BT, are represented in Cambridge, with Vodafone and TalkTalk leveraging Cityfibre’s network to provide ultrafast broadband.

Areas with newer infrastructure benefit from faster speeds and full-fibre availability, while older neighbourhoods may experience slower speeds due to reliance on outdated connections.

While 5G broadband can also be a good option in some cities, coverage is not yet comprehensive in Cambridge.

Cambridge’s broadband landscape is generally positive, but the broadband available for your household will depend on your exact address. Use a postcode checker to compare the best broadband deals in Cambridge for your home.”

Max Beckett, Broadband Expert

What area of Cambridge has the best broadband speeds?

Despite recent improvements to Cambridge’s infrastructure allowing many residents access to faster broadband, average speeds vary significantly from area to area. Here are some areas reporting the best broadband speeds in Cambridge:

West Chesterton
Petersfield
Kings Hedges
Romsey
Cherry Hinton
Arbury
East Barnwell and Abbey
Central and West Cambridge
Trumpington

Meanwhile, older neighbourhoods and rural areas like East Cambridgeshire may achieve slower speeds due to older infrastructure.

The fastest broadband options for your household will depend on your exact address, so use our postcode checker and sort by ‘speed: high-low’ to find the best broadband deals for you.