Millions of internet users in the UK are familiar with a common issue when trying to go online. The problem of online congestion typically arises in the evenings when many households are simultaneously engaging in activities like streaming movies, downloading files, and video calling friends.
During daytime working hours, when fewer people are online, internet speeds tend to remain fast and stable. However, as evening approaches and more households get online after work, local networks can become overloaded, leading to significant slowdowns in internet speeds.
Analogous to a motorway, broadband performance decreases when more users are active simultaneously. This is why many households experience a noticeable decline in internet speed between 7pm and 11pm.
A recent study conducted by Broadband Genie has revealed the UK areas most impacted by slowdowns during peak hours, with Wigan (WN1) being the most affected. Users in this area witness a drop in average download speeds from 167Mbps during off-peak times to just 75Mbps in the evening, representing a 55% decrease.
Other regions significantly affected by evening congestion include Galashiels (TD1), Harrogate (HG1), Exeter (EX1), and Rochester (ME1).
Some areas in the UK, however, experience an improvement in internet speeds during peak times. Newport emerged as the top-performing location in the study, followed by Oxford, Glasgow, Blackburn, and Cambridge.
Broadband Genie explained that like roads, internet networks can suffer from congestion, leading to fluctuations in performance at peak times. By analyzing 144,509 broadband speed tests, they identified locations where broadband performance is most impacted during busy hours, with Wigan showing the largest speed drop of 55%.
The report also outlined regional disparities across the UK, with Scotland ranking highest overall for improved broadband performance in the evenings. Conversely, the South West experienced a 15% decrease in average speeds during peak periods compared to daytime performance.
Experts in broadband suggest several ways for households to enhance their home connection, such as placing routers in open, central positions away from obstructions to improve signal quality. Providers like Virgin Media recommend regular router reboots to resolve temporary network issues.