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 households are engaging in activities like streaming movies, downloading files, and video calling friends. During working hours, when fewer people are online, internet speeds tend to remain fast and stable. However, as the evening approaches and more users log on, local networks can become overwhelmed, leading to a noticeable decrease in speed.
Comparing broadband to a motorway, the more users accessing it simultaneously, the slower the connection becomes. This explains why many households experience a significant decline in performance between 7pm and 11pm. A recent study by Broadband Genie has pinpointed the UK areas most impacted by slowdowns during peak hours, with Wigan (WN1) ranking at the top of the list.
According to the report, broadband users in Wigan witness a drop in average download speeds from 167Mbps during off-peak times to just 75Mbps in the evening, representing a decrease of 55%. Other areas significantly affected by evening congestion include Galashiels (TD1), Harrogate (HG1), Exeter (EX1), and Rochester (ME1).
Not all regions in the UK experience slowdowns in the evening; some areas actually see an improvement. Newport emerged as the best-performing area in the study, followed by Oxford, Glasgow, Blackburn, and Cambridge. Broadband Genie explained that just like traffic on roads, internet networks can suffer congestion, leading to varying performance at peak times.
The report also highlighted regional disparities across the UK, with Scotland ranking highest overall for improved broadband performance in the evenings. Conversely, the South West experienced a decrease of around 15% in average speeds during peak periods compared to daytime performance. Broadband experts suggest strategies for households to enhance their home connections, such as placing routers in open, central locations away from obstructions and rebooting routers regularly to address temporary network issues.