UK broadband speed boost as more homes get better downloads (Image: GETTY)
If your current broadband speeds are driving you to distraction, it might be worth checking your postcode without delay. It’s just been confirmed that half of all UK homes now have access to Fibre to the Premises (FTTP) speeds, which make downloading files and films over 10 times faster than old copper cables.
Openreach platform, which installs the infrastructure that makes this faster broadband possible, has just announced the crucial update along with telling homes to check their connections.
Openreach reckons that it is currently connecting 78,000 new premises every week including homes in more rural areas.
This rollout means that 17 million premises can now upgrade to FTTP full fibre and enjoy internet access at speeds of up to 1Gbps. At that rapid rate, a full HD movie could be downloaded in just 40 seconds.
Along with BT, providers such as Sky, Vodafone and TalkTalk all use Openreach cables to whizz the web into homes so, if you use any of those ISPs, now is a good time to see if you can get faster web access
Download speed chart (Image: EXPRESS)
To help you, Openreach has a dedicated which will show you exactly speeds are available in your street. Just be aware that faster access will cost you more so make sure you pick the right speeds for you.
Speaking about the update Clive Selley, CEO, Openreach, said: “Fast, reliable connectivity is essential for the UK, and the increased traffic on our broadband network is evidence that customers are increasingly reliant on it in their daily lives.
“We’re building and connecting people faster than ever before and I’m proud of the progress our engineers have made. We’re well on our way to delivering our ambition of reaching 25 million homes and business by the end of 2026, and now our sights are set on reaching 30 million premises by the end of 2030,
“While over a third of properties have already switched, there’s plenty of room for more people to get a better connection right now. So why not check if you could get faster – and potentially cheaper – broadband today.”
This news from OPenreach will be welcomed by millions of homes but there are plenty of other providers also increasing speeds and network size.
Firm’s such as Virgin Media, Cityfibre, Hypeoptic and Community Fibre supply millions of homes so it’s always worth shopping around to find the best speeds and price in your area.