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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.

girl using an old rotary landline phone
Do I need a landline for broadband?Want broadband without a phone line? It's now easier than ever to get broadband without a ..
woman in a work meeting at home
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 ..
A teenager pointing to a Wi-Fi router to explain to an older lady what it is. Next to an emoji of a satellite.
What are the best wireless routers?Guide to the best broadband routers in the UK. Find the best router for coverage across ma ..
Moving home guide - off white
Broadband and moving house - how to set up your internetYour guide to moving your broadband connection to your new house. Here's what to consider ..
Man drinking a coffee while on a laptop while sitting in a caravan
How to get Wi-Fi in a caravanThere are several ways you can get great broadband in a caravan. Read on to find out how y ..
A header image with the text "Parental control resources" and a photo of a boy playing a handheld gaming device.
How to set up and update parental controlsA comprehensive guide to parental controls, including how to update and configure your chi ..

Broadband basics

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

woman working from home two screens coding
Bits and bytes explained — a guide to internet connection speedsKnowing the difference between bits and bytes is key to understanding broadband download t ..
elderly couple paying their bills
Five important details to look for in your broadband billFind out the key details to be aware of in your next broadband bill, so you can avoid pric ..
person unlocking laptop with smartphone protection 2fa (two-factor authentication)
How to stay safe online - a guide to internet securityFind out all the best ways you can stay safe while using the internet, from antivirus soft ..
woman smiling while using her phone and laptop in a cafe
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 abou ..
IP addresses are like a phone number for your computer.
What is an IP address?What is an IP address? How do I find my IP address? Find out these answers and more about ..
woman using laptop
What is a wireless router?Read our guide to wireless routers to find out how to set them up and how they get your ho ..

Broadband speeds

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

uswitch black friday image with two children gaming
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 Frid ..
Streaming on a laptop
What broadband speed do I need for streaming?The amount of broadband speed you need to stream depends on which platforms you use, what ..
Woman using phone and laptop
What broadband speed do I need?Take a look at our guide to broadband speed guide — find out what speeds you have availabl ..
Download time calculator: check your internet speedUnderstanding broadband speeds and download times has never been easier with our download ..
What is gigabit internet?The next big step in home broadband is the introduction of gigabit internet speeds across ..
working from home broadband guide - woman working from her kitchen table at home
Getting the most out of your broadband when working from homeWith many of us working from home at least part of the time, there are a few things you ca ..

Solving problem with your broadband

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

child learning from home with his teacher on a video call
Broadband social tariffs for universal credit and low incomesIf you're on Universal Credit or receiving other financial benefits, you can find a much c ..
38 million consumers lost internet for 3+ hours 2023-2024
Broadband outage: what to do when your broadband goes downWhat happens when your broadband goes down? What can you do about it? And how long will yo ..
How to complain to your broadband provider guide - woman stressed on her phone
How to complain to your broadband providerFrom price rise woes, to annoying connection dropouts, to poor customer service, here's ho ..
why your internet is slow guide
Why is my internet so slow?Here are all the things that could be causing your internet to slow down, and what you can ..
internet connection problems - woman looking stressed
Your guide to internet connection problemsHaving internet connection problems? Here are a few pointers to help you identify the sour ..
Young woman on a video call on her laptop
A guide to video calling onlineVideo calls have become a standard practice in most of our lives. Here's how to get the mo ..

Broadband price rises

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

woman looking frustrated at her laptop
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 yo ..
Broadband price rises in 2024 explainedBroadband prices gone up mid-contract? Learn why prices have increased by as much as 8.8% ..
two people at home sorting out their bills
How to save money on your broadband billLooking for ways to save money on your monthly bills? Here's how you can reduce what you s ..
man sat at a desk on the phone while looking at his laptop
EE broadband price rise 2024: what can you do?EE hiked its prices by 7.9% for nearly every customer from 31 March 2024. Find out what yo ..
talktalk price increases - man checking bills
TalkTalk price increase 2024: what can you do?TalkTalk raised its prices for almost all customers by 7.7% in 2024. Here's what you can d ..
man looking at bills on the computer
Plusnet price increase 2024: what can customers do?Almost all Plusnet customers will have seen their prices go up by 7.9% in 2024. If you’re ..

Mobile broadband

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

woman with phone
What is 5G home broadband?5G home broadband could provide you with download speeds well over 200Mbps, all without th ..
image of a huawei cpe 5g router or vodafone gigacube plugged in at home
Vodafone GigaCube 5G broadband reviewWe reviewed Vodafone's 5G broadband service, GigaCube, to see if 5G speeds can really be a ..
woman working on her laptop outside
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 ..
woman working with laptop on the train
How to use a mobile internet dongleWondering what is a broadband dongle? Want to ask what is a USB mobile broadband stick? Re ..

Broadband providers

Our latest news and advice on broadband providers.

couple looking at their laptop at home
Which broadband provider has the best customer service?Using the latest data from Ofcom, see which broadband provider is best for customer servic ..
“Smaller providers were voted best value for money broadband.”
The best value for money broadband providers in the UKSee which providers offer the fastest speeds for the cheapest prices, and find out what el ..
virgin media o2 volt hero image
How to get Volt benefits from Virgin Media O2What benefits do you get for being a Virgin Media broadband and O2 mobile customer? Find o ..
woman smiling at her phone while sat on her sofa
Altnet broadband providers explained: how to get cheap full fibreAltnets are smaller broadband providers offering full fibre-only deals. Find out why they' ..
woman using her laptop while sat on her sofa
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 abl ..
couple looking at their laptop at home
Your guide to UK broadband providersGet up-to-date info on your broadband supplier and browse the different options available ..

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 switch broadband guide
How to switch broadband - a guide to changing your providerWant to switch your broadband service? Here's how to do it all, from finding the speed you ..
black friday broadband and tv deals image
How to get the best Black Friday & Cyber Monday broadband dealsThe Black Friday and Cyber Monday weekend is a great time to buy a cheaper broadband deal. ..
man smiling at his laptop at home
Six broadband switching myths — bustedWhat's keeping people from switching to a better broadband service? We found six myths sur ..
one touch switch broadband image with couple using laptop
One Touch Switch explainedSwitching broadband just got even easier. Here’s what the new process means for you next t ..
How to claim your broadband vouchers guide - man shopping
How to claim your broadband vouchers, gift cards and reward cards after you switchBroadband providers often offer gift vouchers or reward cards when you switch, here's how ..
recycling
How to recycle your broadband routerReduce waste and save on extra costs by recycling or returning your old broadband router a ..

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.

160 video gaming terms explained
160 video gaming terms, words and slang explainedNew to gaming? We’ve got you covered with Uswitch’s must-know gaming terminology glossary. ..
Young Adult Losing Video Games
Lag, ping and latency in online gamingWhat's the difference between lag, ping and latency, and how will it affect your online ga ..
Xbox cloud gaming
Xbox cloud gaming: everything you need to knowWant to get access to a huge library of gaming to try out and play wherever you have an in ..
Video game genres guide
Video game genres: every game type explainedWith thousands of video games already available, and countless more released each year, ho ..
Gaming advice for parents: What you need to know about online gaming and your child
Online gaming advice for parents: What you need to knowA guide to safe online gaming for children, offering online gaming advice for parents, inc ..
playstation parental controls guide
How to set up PlayStation parental controlsSet up parental controls on PlayStation 5 and PlayStation 4 to keep your kids safe online, ..

Types of broadband

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.

satellite broadband
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 a ..
image fo a woman using full fibre broadband at home
What is full fibre broadband?Full fibre is one of the fastest types of broadband in the UK. Find out all you need to kn ..
fibre-optic cables
What is fibre broadband and how does it work?How does fibre-optic broadband work? Which fibre broadband package is right for me? Do you ..
ADSL stands for Asymmetric Digital Subscriber Line
What is ADSL broadband?Want to know how ADSL broadband works? Read Uswitch's quick guide to ADSL broadband. Find ..
Happy 60s older mature middle aged adult woman using digital tablet on Wi-Fi
The different types of broadband in the UKFind out all about the different broadband connections available in the UK, and which ones ..
man playing video games at home on Wi-Fi
What is superfast broadband?Don't know what superfast broadband is? Read our guide to find out what it is and how to c ..

Broadband studies

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

Woman gamer on PC - How to speed up your console
Video game downloads: how to speed up your consoleBored waiting for video games to download on your console? Try these top tips to speed up ..
Feature image with the title "200+ UK fibre broadband statistics 2024" next to a fibre optic cable
200+ UK Fibre Broadband Statistics 2024 - Fibre Broadband Facts & Stats ReportWhich UK region is the best for full fibre broadband? We’ve compiled over 200 fibre broadb ..
The parent's guide to gaming
Parent’s Guide to PEGI Ratings and Gaming for KidsWe reveal the best child-friendly games, as well as help parents to decipher PEGI age rati ..
Metaverse-ready nations
Metaverse-Ready NationsWe have analysed nations across the globe on factors, including internet speeds and Metave ..
Online Learning Index
Online Learning IndexWe have analysed 50 UK universities on factors such as the number of online courses and un ..
woman working from home
Hybrid working index: the best locations for working online from homeWe've ranked the best towns and cities across the UK for hybrid working, so you can balanc ..