Slow Broadband Is Usually Fixable
Before calling your broadband provider and spending 40 minutes on hold, it's worth running through these checks yourself. The most common causes of slow broadband are on your side of the connection — not the provider's network — which means they're often fixable without an engineer visit.
1. Test Your Actual Speed First
Go to fast.com or speedtest.net and run a speed test while connected via ethernet (a cable direct into the router, not Wi-Fi). This tells you the actual speed arriving at your router. Compare it to the speed on your broadband contract — if you're getting close to what you're paying for, the problem is your home network, not the broadband itself.
2. Restart Your Router
Unplug your router, wait 30 seconds, plug it back in. Leave it 2 minutes to fully reconnect. This clears the router's memory and re-establishes a fresh connection to your provider's network. It sounds basic but fixes a surprising number of slow speed issues.
3. Check Router Placement
Your broadband router should ideally be as central as possible, elevated, and away from thick walls, metal objects and other electronics. A router tucked behind the TV in a corner of the house will always perform worse than one placed centrally at chest height.
4. Check for Interference on Your Phone Line
If you're on ADSL or VDSL (standard broadband, not full-fibre), make sure every phone socket in your house has a microfilter installed. A single socket without a microfilter can slow your entire broadband connection significantly. If you're on full-fibre (FTTP), this doesn't apply.
5. Check What's Using Your Connection
Someone streaming 4K video, downloading games or running a video call in the background will slow everything else down. Check what devices are connected to your router (usually visible in the router's app or web interface) and disconnect anything you don't recognise.
6. Consider Your Broadband Package
If you've been with your provider for several years, there's a good chance newer, faster packages are available at the same or lower price — particularly if full-fibre has been rolled out in your area since you signed up. It's worth checking what's available at your address.
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Frequently Asked Questions
Why is my broadband fast on the speed test but slow when I'm using it?
Speed test results reflect the raw connection speed, not how fast it feels in practice. Factors like the number of devices connected, the quality of your Wi-Fi signal to your device, and congestion on specific websites or services can all make things feel slower even when the headline speed is fine.
Why is my broadband slower at certain times of day?
Evening slowdowns (typically 6-10pm) are usually caused by network congestion — more people in your area using the internet at the same time. This is a provider-side issue and may be worth raising with them if it's consistently bad.
Do I need full-fibre broadband?
For most households and small businesses, VDSL (FTTC) delivering 30-80Mbps is adequate. Full-fibre (FTTP) becomes worth considering if you have multiple people working from home simultaneously, upload large files regularly, or frequently experience evening slowdowns. Availability and pricing have improved significantly in recent years.