Millions of users in the UK are familiar with the challenge of dealing with online congestion when trying to connect to the internet. Typically, this issue arises during the evening hours when households are engaged in activities such as streaming movies, downloading files, and video chatting with friends.
During the day, when fewer people are online, internet speeds tend to be faster and more reliable. However, as the evening approaches and more households come online after work, local networks can get overloaded, leading to a noticeable slowdown in speeds.
Comparing broadband to a motorway, the more traffic using it simultaneously, the slower the overall performance. This is why many households experience a significant decline in speed between 7 pm and 11 pm.
A recent study by Broadband Genie has exposed the UK areas most impacted by slowdowns during peak times, with Wigan (WN1) standing out as the most affected location. According to the findings, average download speeds in Wigan drop from 167Mbps during off-peak hours to just 75Mbps in the evenings, marking a 55% decrease.
Other areas significantly affected by evening congestion include Galashiels (TD1), Harrogate (HG1), Exeter (EX1), and Rochester (ME1).
In contrast, some regions in the UK experience improved speeds during peak hours. Newport emerged as the top-performing area in the study, followed by Oxford, Glasgow, Blackburn, and Cambridge.
Broadband Genie highlighted the phenomenon of broadband slowdowns during peak times, likening it to traffic congestion on roads. The study, based on 144,509 broadband speed tests, identified locations where broadband performance is most affected during busy hours.
Wigan residents experienced the most substantial speed drop, with speeds plummeting by 55% during peak hours. The report also noted regional variations across the UK, with Scotland leading in overall broadband performance improvement during the evenings, while Wales and the East of England also exhibited strong performance.
Conversely, the South West ranked at the bottom, experiencing a 15% decline in average speeds during peak periods compared to daytime performance.
Broadband experts suggest several ways for households to enhance their home connection, such as placing the router in an open, central location free from obstructions to improve signal quality. Providers like Virgin Media recommend regular router reboots to address temporary network issues.