Are you still playing online and downloading games at 40 MB/s and practically zero upload speeds? Times are changing for faster speeds in the UK, and it's time to change things up and make those day-one updates download at lightspeed—well, maybe not that fast, but 100s MB/s more!
In February 2024, the UK's average download speed for broadband was 101.71 Mbps, with an upload speed of 26.40 Mbps and a latency of 13 ms, based on data from at least 300 unique users on Speedtest.Net. The UK is currently ranked 48th out of 181 countries for fixed broadband, so there's no excuse for Netflix buffering a film after five minutes or putting up with massive pings.
TL;DR - Fastest Broadband for Gamers in the UK
Whilst fibre optic cables are needed from a user's home and beyond to enable gigabit broadband connections, plenty of sub-1000 Mbps Broadband providers out there will have you and your friends popping headshots quicker than you can say multikill!
There are even options for those living in low-speed areas that have not installed any form of fibre broadband, thanks to 5G and satellite connectivity. No one in the UK needs to suffer dreaded 5 Mbps speeds, which is why we've collected the top five gaming broadband providers for any situation and budget. Never leave a teammate behind.
Virgin
Virgin Media has provided exceptional fibre broadband service in the UK for years since it inherited the Cable and Wireless / NTL fibre networks over twenty years ago. Users can matchmake and download updates quickly while the rest of the household is streaming.
There are packages for every kind of user, with even their lowest deal being sound for online gaming; here's a breakdown of each one:
- M125: Offers average download speeds of 132 Mbps, suitable for browsing, streaming, and video calls on up to four devices.
- M250: Provides an average download speed of 264 Mbps, ideal for households with multiple people online.
- M350: Offers an average download speed of 362 Mbps, enabling 4K streaming for multiple users without buffering.
- M500: Boasts average download speeds of 516 Mbps, making it an excellent option for large households requiring robust internet connectivity.
- Gigabit: Provides groundbreaking average download speeds of 1,130Mbps, making it perfect for online gaming, downloading large files, and streaming 4K content.
BT
British Telecom has been a staple in the UK for decades. It was one of the first telecommunication providers to offer Internet connections in the grand old days of dial-up. Now that they've teamed up with EE, one of the biggest mobile providers in the UK, they provide a solid alternative to those who can only get full fibre broadband in their area later.
Users can also opt for their full WIFi service that guarantees full coverage in a user's home. There are alternatives for mesh systems, but this takes the primary step of sorting it. Again, there's something for everyone here, so here's a breakdown:
- Full Fibre 100: It offers speeds up to 150 Mbps, perfect for streaming and downloading large files. It costs £29.99 per month.
- Full Fibre 300 is another option for those who need even faster speeds. It costs £32.99 per month and provides speeds up to 300 Mbps, ideal for gaming, streaming, and downloading.
- Full Fibre 500 & 900: Costs £40.99 and £44.99 per month, respectively, and provide download speeds of 500 Mbps and 900 Mbps, making them perfect for all your online activities.
Sky
This list wouldn’t be complete without Sky broadband, but they have been known to throttle connections during peak periods. While we can't comment on specific details, Sky is still a go-to provider, especially for households who want to bundle TV, streaming, and phone services to save a few pounds. They also have a sub-100 Mbps for those who can't get full fibre connections, so it's a more accessible and cheaper service than most.
- Superfast Broadband: This plan costs £28/month on an 18-month contract and provides an average speed of 61Mb/s. It's an excellent choice for streaming and downloading across multiple devices. It comes with a speed guarantee, a money-back guarantee, and a 50% discount on selected data plans when combined with Sky Broadband.
- Full Fibre 100: For the same price as the Superfast Broadband plan, this package offers a speed of 100Mb/s. It's perfect for gamers and home workers who require extra bandwidth, and it is backed by the UK's most reliable broadband technology.
- Ultrafast Broadband: Priced at £30/month, this package offers speeds of 145Mb/s and is designed for larger households with more internet users. It also comes with the same guarantees and offers as the plans above.
- Ultrafast Plus & Gigafast: Sky's premium plans include Ultrafast Plus at £34/month for 500Mb/s and Gigafast at £42/month for 900Mb/s. These plans are ideal for users with the highest data demands, including UHD streaming and competitive online gaming.
What to Look for When Choosing a Broadband Provider
Have a good think when shopping for the right gaming broadband deal. Each area of the UK is different, where a house down the road could get significantly different speeds. Full fibre is a rarity for rural and out-of-city areas, often forcing users to go for middle-of-the-road or get considerably slower speeds. City and other urban areas should have access to higher speeds and, if fitted, full fibre Gigabit speeds depending on the provider operating in the area. Anything under 100 Mbps could be better for online gaming and downloading large files quickly. However, single users could get away with 60 Mbps and over. An upload speed of 5 Mbps and over is great for avoiding lag, and it's often an overlooked feature.
Latency is also a key factor, specifically under 50 ms (milliseconds) for a seamless gaming experience. Digging deeper and checking a service provider's ping rate is always a solid idea, which can vary by area. Most fixed-line broadband packages have unlimited caps in the UK, but checking the small print is always a good idea. Again, Sky has been known to throttle at peak times, but this should be detailed in your contract or at the time of purchase. Finally, ensure enough ethernet ports on the supplied router unless users use their own kit. WIFI has come a long way, but a weird connection will always beat a wireless one in every way.
Plusnet
Plusnet is an incredibly reliable service and often enough to have plenty of freebies to give away alongside its broadband packages. Its customer service record speaks for itself (winning awards in 2021, and 2022), and you can get a consistent 70Mbps fibre service (or up to 500Mbps in the right areas). There's no fuss, and no hassle. Sure, you won't be downloading next-gen titles at the speed of sound on most plans, but Plusnet will do just fine for online gaming, and most standard updates for current titles.
Hyperoptic
Hyperoptic is a relatively new and innovative broadband provider that's aiming to provide more homes with Gigabit internet capabilities. Right now its top plan can reach average speeds of 1Gbps, and even at peak times will tend to hit at least 900Mbps instead.
Hyperoptic also offers these plans on 30-day rolling contracts for a slight increase in price, which can often enough also provide a free speed upgrade. If you do opt for this, it also means you can leave or change providers at any time, without any extra costs. But, the only downside is Hyperoptic does not reach a vast majority of the country, and is very limited to major cities like London.
Vodafone
Vodafone offers a couple of different types of internet and could be a great option if you're looking for a standard superfast broadband connection. Not only that but existing Vodafone mobile customers can save an extra £2 off their new monthly broadband bill.
If you're one of the lucky few cities to get Gigafast, you can sign up and get supplied right now. Some of the most notable locations include Edinburgh, Bournemouth, Cambridge, and Coventry, but you can find the full list on the Vodafone website.
Zen
Looking for a solid broadband provider that isn't run by shareholders and provides a solid product with no frills? The independent and carbon-neutral Zen is a solid choice for gaming. Although full fibre isn't a given for some UK gamers, Zen offers impressive options to keep a user's ping smiling.
- Full Fibre 100: Priced at £35.00/month with a £15.00 setup fee, this plan offers 100 Mbps download speed and 18 Mbps upload speed. It guarantees a minimum download speed of 50Mbps over an 18-month contract and includes a fast FRITZ! Box router and a static IP address.
- Full Fibre 300: This plan costs £40.00/month plus a £15.00 setup fee and offers 300Mbps download speed, and 47Mbps upload speed with a minimum guaranteed download of 150Mbps. It also comes with an 18-month contract, FRITZ! Box router, static IP, and no in-contract price increases.
- Full Fibre 500: For £45.00/month with a £15.00 setup fee, users get 500 Mbps download speed, 70 Mbps upload speed, and a 250Mbps guaranteed download speed. This package includes the fastest router with WiFi 6, an 18-month contract, and a static IP address.
- Full Fibre 900: Zen's most popular plan, costing £55.00/month with a £15.00 setup fee, provides 900Mbps download speed and 100Mbps upload speed, with a 450Mbps minimum guaranteed download. It features an 18-month contract, the fastest WiFi 6 router, static IP, and a promise of no in-contract price increases.
Starlink
While 5G is a while off being stable enough to replace a solid fixed-line broadband connection across the UK, Starlinks satellite technology has full UK coverage. It can happily provide up to 300 Mbps download speeds provided the satellite has a clear view of the Sky, but users must pay for the privilege.
With the installation equipment costing north of £400 and a £75 per month rolling cost, we'd only recommend Starlink for users who struggle to get above 100 Mbps at home. There's just one package for consumers now, with other packages available to travelling users, small businesses, and enterprises. The extra on top is worth it for those on the road looking to have a grassroots online gaming experience.
Christian Wait is a UK-based freelancer for IGN, you can follow him @ChrisReggieWait on Twitter/X.
