Best UK broadband provider named in new data - does yours make the list?

Georgia Burns & Henry Burrell
·2-min read
UK broadband alert
-Credit: (Image: GETTY)


The latest figures on the UK’s fixed broadband networks are in, and in a surprising outcome, one internet provider has outperformed the rest across all five different measurements.

A recent fixed broadband experience report from Opensignal reveals that Virgin Media has come out on top for consistent quality, download speed, upload speed, video experience, and reliability. Beating close competitors such as Sky, BT, and TalkTalk.

Opensignal examined the real-world fixed broadband experiences of users across the UK, analysing performance data from July 1 to September 28, 2024, across 12 different regions.

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The company independently measures the performance of millions of devices worldwide, each day through its app and various partners. This report includes data from customers of Three, BT, EE, Plusnet, Sky, TalkTalk, Virgin Media, and Vodafone.

In all the categories, Virgin Media topped its competitors when it came to download speed, reports the Express.

Scotland's best broadband providers

Selective focus at router. Internet router on working table with blurred man connect the cable at the background. Fast and high speed internet connection from fiber line with LAN cable connection.
Virgin Media took the top spot in most areas in the UK -Credit:Getty

  • Consistent quality - Joint Winners: Hyperoptic/Virgin Media

  • Download speed - Joint Winners: Hyperoptic/Virgin Media

  • Upload speed - Hyperoptic

  • Video experience - Hyperoptic

  • Reliability experience - Virgin Media

Virgin broadband customers across the UK had an average speed of 157.4Mbps, more than twice as fast as its closest rival, Vodafone, which recorded 77.5Mbps. Whilst sitting in last place was EE with a national average speed of 45.9Mbps.

Virgin topped Vodafone with a national high score of 90.4 percent for consistent connection quality. Opensignal describes this as “measuring how often a network, from the perspective of a single device once connectivity is established, meets the requirements for common applications,” factoring in speed, latency, and other performance elements.

Three score was 72.3 percent, the lowest consistent quality score. As well as ranking last for reliability with a score of 443/1000, making it the only provider to score below 500. Virgin Media won the category with a score of 763.

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“Virgin Media wins all five of the overall experience awards outright,” Opensignal said. “This means that out of the UK’s national broadband providers, our Virgin Media users have the best available experience when streaming video, the fastest average download and upload speeds, and the most reliable, and the most consistent fixed broadband experience.”

While Virgin led the national rankings, it didn’t claim the top spot in every UK region. In London, the charts were dominated by Community Fibre. The independent provider operates across much of London using its own fibre network, similar to Virgin Media's national network.

These are different to Openreach, the BT-owned fibre network which BT, EE, TalkTalk and others use.

Additionally, Hyperoptic claimed the top spot in Scotland for upload speeds, video experience, and reliability.

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