Millions of internet users in the UK are familiar with the challenge of dealing with online congestion, especially during peak hours in the evening. This issue arises when multiple users in a household simultaneously engage in activities like streaming movies, downloading files, and video calling friends, causing local networks to become overloaded and leading to slower speeds.
A recent study conducted by Broadband Genie has revealed the UK areas most impacted by these peak-time slowdowns, with Wigan (WN1) topping the list. The report indicates that broadband users in Wigan witness a significant decline in download speeds from 167Mbps during off-peak hours to 75Mbps in the evening, marking a 55% decrease.
Other regions heavily affected by evening congestion include Galashiels (TD1), Harrogate (HG1), Exeter (EX1), and Rochester (ME1). Interestingly, not all parts of the UK experience slowdowns during peak hours; some areas actually observe an improvement. Newport emerged as the top-performing area in the study, followed by Oxford, Glasgow, Blackburn, and Cambridge.
Broadband Genie explained that similar to traffic congestion on roads, internet networks can also face congestion, impacting broadband performance. The analysis, based on 144,509 broadband speed tests, identified locations where broadband performance fluctuates the most during peak times. Customers in Wigan experienced the most significant drop, with speeds decreasing by 55% during busy hours.
Furthermore, the report highlighted regional variations across the UK, with Scotland showing the highest overall ranking, indicating improved broadband performance in the evenings. Conversely, the South West experienced a decrease of approximately 15% in average speeds during peak periods compared to daytime performance.
Experts in the broadband industry suggest various ways for households to enhance their home connections, such as placing routers in open, central locations away from obstructions to improve signal quality. Providers like Virgin Media recommend regular router reboots to address temporary network issues and maintain a stable connection.
