Millions of internet users in the UK face a common issue when trying to go online. The problem of online congestion mainly impacts households during the evening hours, as that is when most people are streaming content, downloading files, and engaging in video calls.
During daytime working hours, when fewer individuals are using the internet at home, download speeds typically remain fast and stable. However, once the evening sets in and households become more active online, local networks can get overwhelmed, leading to noticeable slowdowns in internet speeds.
To illustrate, broadband operates similarly to a motorway where increased traffic results in slower movement. This is why many households experience a significant performance drop between 7 pm and 11 pm.
A recent study conducted by Broadband Genie has revealed the UK areas most impacted by slowdowns during peak times, with Wigan (WN1) ranking at the top of the list. In this region, average download speeds decrease from 167Mbps during off-peak hours to just 75Mbps in the evening, marking a 55% decline.
Other areas significantly affected by evening congestion include Galashiels (TD1), Harrogate (HG1), Exeter (EX1), and Rochester (ME1).
The study also identified regions that actually see an improvement in internet speeds during peak hours. Newport emerged as the top-performing location, followed by Oxford, Glasgow, Blackburn, and Cambridge.
Broadband Genie highlighted the analogy between internet congestion and road traffic, emphasizing that internet networks can experience slowdowns akin to traffic jams. The study, based on 144,509 broadband speed tests, pinpointed locations where broadband performance is most impacted during peak times.
Furthermore, the report showcased regional variations across the UK, with Scotland showing the most improvement in broadband performance during evenings. Conversely, the South West experienced a 15% decline in average speeds during peak periods compared to daytime performance.
Experts suggest several measures households can take to enhance their home internet connection, such as placing the router in an open, central location free from obstructions and rebooting routers regularly to address temporary network issues.