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Why London Offices Struggle With Wi-Fi — Even With Fast Fibre

Does this sound like your business, or perhaps a client of yours? 

You’ve invested in a fast internet connection – Perhaps 500Mbps, 1Gbps or a leased line. Wired computers connected to the network perform extremely well, but staff are still continuing to report:

  • Slow Wi-Fi
  • Teams/Zoom calls dropping
  • Poor performance in particular meeting rooms
  • Laptops disconnecting or reconnecting
  • Devices hanging onto the wrong access point
  • Good Wi-Fi in one part of the office but poor performance elsewhere
  • Problems becoming noticeably worse when the office is busy

The in-house IT team checks the internet connection and reports that everything looks fine. And both statements can be true: The Internet connection can be excellent AND the Wi-Fi can be poor. 

If your London business has recently installed fibre, leased lines or gigabit broadband, but haven’t seen the improvement you expected with the Wi-Fi then please read on. 

What’s the difference between broadband / internet and Wi-Fi?

The Internet connection or broadband is the service bringing connectivity into the building. Wi-Fi is the radio network distributing that connectivity wirelessly around the office.

When you buy a faster internet connection, that only increases the potential bandwidth available at the edge of the network. It doesn’t automatically improve:

  • Wireless coverage
  • Interference
  • Channel utilisation
  • Access-point capacity
  • Roaming
  • Poor AP positioning
  • Network configuration

Think about it like this. Upgrading the motorway into a city doesn’t necessarily remove congestion from the streets around the destination.

Similarly, conducting a speed test beside an Access Point isn’t evidence that the entire wireless network is healthy and working to the same speed.

Why do London offices tend to be particularly difficult wireless environments?

London offices have a high density of neighbouring businesses and wireless networks. Numerous Access Points may be visible from surrounding offices. This is especially relevant in business in:

  • Shared office buildings
  • Serviced offices
  • Converted buildings
  • Multi-tenant commercial buildings;
  • Dense central London locations.

Wi-Fi uses shared radio spectrum. Your network doesn’t operate in isolation simply because it has its own SSID. Other wireless networks and sources of interference can affect the available airtime. The challenge is therefore often much greater than simply achieving “full bars”.

Coverage isn’t the same as capacity

An Access Point may provide a perfectly strong signal but still be overloaded or operating in a congested environment. Traditional office Wi-Fi was often designed primarily around providing coverage. Modern offices need to consider capacity as well.

50 people with laptops and phones can easily represent 100+ connected devices. Then add in:

  • Company tablets
  • Meeting-room equipment
  • Printers
  • TVs
  • IoT devices
  • Wireless presentation systems.

Wi-Fi needs to be designed around how the space is actually used, not merely the size of the floorplan.

The Meeting Room Problem

The Meeting Room provides us with a particularly good real-world example of the kind of Wi-Fi problems you can run into in a London office. 

A meeting room might normally contain nobody. Then all of a sudden, 10–20 people enter carrying laptops and phones. Several of these people may start video calls, screen sharing or cloud applications.

Within moments, the wireless demand has changed dramatically.

An AP in the corridor outside may technically provide coverage, but not necessarily sufficient capacity or performance.

Modern office design therefore needs to consider where people congregate, how many of them there are and what devices they could be using and for what. 

Why adding more access points isn’t automatically the answer

It’s commonly thought that the solution for poor Wi-Fi must just be to buy another Access Point. And of course, more AP’s can be helpful – When they are properly designed. 

But indiscriminately just adding more AP’s can actually introduce additional contention and interference, creating further problems. 

AP transmit power, channels, channel width and positioning all matter.

Access Points need to form part of a coordinated wireless design. The aim isn’t simply to produce the strongest possible signal everywhere.

Office Construction and Layout

Walk around London and you’ll see it has a huge variety of building types.

From modern glass offices to converted Victorian buildings – All London offices present different Wii-Fi challenges. 

When it comes to construction, potential Wi-Fi obstacles include:

  • Brick
  • Concrete
  • Reinforced concrete
  • Metal
  • Glass
  • Lifts
  • Stairwells
  • Plant rooms
  • Dense storage
  • Partition walls

Any refurbishments can also dramatically alter an RF environment. An Access Point installed before an office fit-out may no longer be positioned appropriately afterwards.

This is just one of the reasons Wi-Fi shouldn’t simply be designed from a square-metre calculation.

Roaming and the “Wi-Fi is bad when I walk around” complaint

Modern offices frequently have multiple APs, which means that devices need to transition between them. Clients ultimately make many roaming decisions themselves.

Poor network design and configuration can make roaming less effective.

Common symptoms of poor roaming:

  • The Wi-Fi works, then
  • The user walks towards another part of the building
  • The laptop/ phone remains connected but performance deteriorates
  • User understandably reports “the Wi-Fi keeps dropping”.

Increasing the broadband speed isn’t going to fix the issue. 

The 9am problem / Busy-office effect

Wi-Fi can appear excellent while an office is empty. The Wi-Fi Engineer performs a speed test at 7pm and gets fantastic results.

9am and it’s a different story. For a London office with 20-200+ employees, between 9 and 10am the next morning, dozens or even hundreds of devices arrive.

Suddenly the demand for airtime increases dramatically. Video meetings start. Cloud applications synchronise.Phones and laptops connect simultaneously.

Performance problems begin to become apparent.

This is a perfect illustration of why testing needs to consider the real operating environment rather than simply headline download speed.

Why just a normal speed test isn’t enough

Speed tests are useful, but only answer a limited question.

Speed Test results can vary according to:

  • Location
  • Device
  • AP
  • Network load
  • Time of day

A professional Wi-Fi assessment should consider much more than merely Mbps. Our expert Wi-Fi engineers here at Geekabit can investigate many potential areas including:

  • Signal strength
  • Signal-to-noise
  • Channel utilisation
  • Interference
  • Access Point placement
  • Channel planning
  • Client distribution
  • Roaming behaviour
  • Wired infrastructure feeding APs
  • Configuration
  • Actual user experience.

There is considerably more happening beneath the surface, and focusing just on internet speed is unlikely to fix the problem. 

Let’s not forget the wired network

Wi-Fi APs ultimately connect back to the wired network. Poor cabling, incorrect negotiation speeds, unsuitable switches, VLAN/configuration problems or inadequate PoE can also cause symptoms that users perceive as “bad Wi-Fi”.

Specialist troubleshooting therefore needs to look beyond the Access Points themselves.

Our approach at Geekabit is to investigate the network as a system rather than automatically blaming one component.

What can a professional Wi-Fi assessment or Site Survey reveal for a business?

There’s a lot that a Wi-Fi Site Survey can tell us about your business wireless network. 

  • Areas with insufficient coverage.
  • Areas with excessive overlapping coverage.
  • Congested channels.
  • Poor AP placement.
  • Incorrect configuration.
  • Capacity hotspots.
  • Problems caused by building construction.
  • Wired-network issues affecting wireless performance.
  • Legacy equipment.
  • Opportunities to optimise the existing infrastructure without necessarily replacing everything.
  • Locations where additional or relocated APs would genuinely help.

Using the information provided from the Wi-Fi assessment, Geekabit can then provide evidence-based recommendations rather than trial-and-error equipment changes.

Wireless network replacement isn’t always necessary!

We’re not hardware sales people – We just want your network to function at its full potential. Wi-Fi recommendations following a Wi-Fi Site Survey aren’t necessarily going to say ‘replace everything.’ There are times where an existing Wi-Fi system is actually perfectly capable – It’s just the configuration or deployment that is poor.

A specialist assessment may recommend:

  • Configuration changes
  • Repositioning equipment;
  • Replacing particular components
  • Adding APs only where needed
  • Upgrading only part of the network.

Recommendations of this nature should be based on evidence, following a Wi-Fi Assessment or Wi-Fi Site Survey.

Geekabit work alongside your existing IT department or company

We know that many London businesses already have an MSP or outsourced IT provider. Any problems with your network don’t automatically mean that your IT Manager / provider is incompetent. 

Diagnosing and resolving a complex wireless problem often requires expert knowledge, whereas general IT support covers an enormous range of technologies. A bit like how a GP knows a little about a lot of illnesses, and then refers you to a specialist for more niche diagnosis and treatments. Wi-Fi engineering is a specialist discipline.

Here at Geekabit we can work alongside:

  • MSPs
  • internal IT departments
  • Cabling companies
  • Office refurb contractors.

Geekabit can investigate the wireless problem, provide evidence based recommendations and work with the incumbent IT provider on remediation.

When should a London business consider calling a Wi-Fi specialist?

If you’ve been struggling with Wi-Fi issues for a while, it may be time to call in a Wi-Fi expert. If your London business is experiencing any of the following issues, please do get in touch with our friendly team.

  • Internet connection tests well but users still complain
  • Problems vary significantly depending on location
  • Wi-Fi gets worse when the office is busy
  • Meeting rooms regularly experience problems
  • Video calls are unreliable
  • Users disconnect when moving around the office
  • Additional APs haven’t solved the problem
  • Different engineers/providers have tried fixes without identifying the root cause
  • Business is moving office or refurbishing an existing one
  • Organisation is planning a significant Wi-Fi upgrade
  • There is pressure to replace the entire network without clear evidence of what’s actually wrong

Call in the Wi-Fi experts at Geekabit 

Geekabit specialises in Wi-Fi and wireless networking rather than providing generic outsourced IT support. Our Wi-Fi expert engineers are on hand to provide on-site specialist assistance at your London office. 

We approach Wi-Fi problems through measurement, diagnosis and evidence.

Our team has experience with business, commercial and complex environments and has the ability to investigate and support both wireless and wired infrastructure. 

We are more than happy to work directly for your London business or alongside an existing IT provider.

Before you spend money replacing equipment or buying an even faster internet connection, STOP. It’s worth finding out what the wireless network is actually doing first. As a Wi-Fi Specialist covering London, Geekabit can help your business diagnose the problem and help deploy the solution. 

Frequently Asked Questions

Why is my office Wi-Fi slow even though we have fast fibre?

Fast fibre only determines how much internet bandwidth reaches your office. Wi-Fi is the wireless network that distributes that connection to laptops, phones and other devices. Poor access point placement, interference, congestion, insufficient capacity or network configuration issues can therefore cause slow Wi-Fi even when a wired speed test shows a very fast internet connection.

Will upgrading to faster broadband improve our office Wi-Fi?

Not necessarily. If your existing internet connection is already fast enough for your business, upgrading it will not fix problems caused by the Wi-Fi network itself. Before increasing broadband capacity, it is worth establishing whether the bottleneck is the internet connection, the wired network or the wireless network.

Why does our office Wi-Fi get worse when more people arrive?

Wi-Fi uses shared radio airtime. As more laptops, phones and other devices connect and transmit data, they compete for that available airtime. An office Wi-Fi network therefore needs sufficient capacity for the number of devices and the applications being used, rather than simply providing a strong signal throughout the building.

Why is the Wi-Fi particularly bad in our meeting rooms?

Meeting rooms can create sudden areas of high wireless demand. A room that is normally empty might suddenly contain 10 or 20 people, each carrying a laptop and smartphone, while several users are making video calls or accessing cloud services. Good Wi-Fi design considers where users congregate as well as basic coverage.

Can adding more Wi-Fi access points make performance worse?

Yes. Adding access points without considering channels, transmit power, positioning and the existing RF environment can create additional contention and interference. More access points can provide greater capacity and coverage when properly designed, but simply installing additional units is not always the solution.

Why does Wi-Fi work well in one part of our office but badly in another?

Wi-Fi signals are affected by distance, building materials, interference and the position of access points. Brick, concrete, metal, glass, lifts and other structural features can all affect radio signals. A professional Wi-Fi assessment can identify how the wireless network actually performs across the office rather than relying solely on theoretical coverage.

Why does my laptop have full Wi-Fi signal but still feel slow?

A strong Wi-Fi signal does not guarantee good performance. Your device may have a strong connection to an access point that is busy, operating on a congested channel or affected by interference. Wi-Fi performance depends on signal quality, available airtime, network capacity and the underlying network as well as the number of signal bars displayed on a device.

Why does Wi-Fi drop when I walk around the office?

In an office with multiple access points, laptops and smartphones need to roam between them as users move around the building. Devices make many of their own roaming decisions, but access point placement and network configuration can influence how effectively this happens. Poor roaming can result in a device remaining connected to a distant access point even when a better one is available nearby.

What is a professional Wi-Fi site survey?

A professional Wi-Fi site survey assesses how a wireless network performs within a real building or planned environment. Depending on the type of survey, it can examine factors including signal strength, coverage, interference, channel utilisation, access point placement and capacity. The findings can then be used to diagnose problems or design improvements based on measured evidence.

Is a Wi-Fi site survey just a series of speed tests?

No. Speed tests can be useful, but they only show the performance experienced by one device at a particular location and moment in time. Professional Wi-Fi troubleshooting considers the wider radio environment, access point deployment, interference, capacity, configuration and the wired infrastructure supporting the wireless network.

Can network cabling or switches cause Wi-Fi problems?

Yes. Wireless access points ultimately rely on the wired network for connectivity and power. Cabling faults, incorrect Ethernet negotiation speeds, switch configuration problems or power issues can all affect an access point’s performance. Users may experience the result as poor Wi-Fi even though the underlying fault is elsewhere in the network.

Do we need to replace all our Wi-Fi equipment if performance is poor?

Not necessarily. Existing equipment may be perfectly capable but poorly positioned, configured or integrated into the wider network. A specialist assessment should identify the cause of the problem before recommending replacement equipment. In some cases, configuration changes or repositioning existing access points may significantly improve performance.

What is the difference between Wi-Fi coverage and Wi-Fi capacity?

Coverage describes whether a usable wireless signal reaches a particular area. Capacity describes whether the network can adequately support the number of devices and amount of wireless traffic in that area. A modern office can have excellent Wi-Fi coverage but inadequate capacity when large numbers of people are using the network simultaneously.

Why are London offices particularly challenging for Wi-Fi?

London offices are often located in dense commercial environments containing many neighbouring wireless networks. Multi-tenant buildings, neighbouring businesses, complex building materials and high numbers of connected devices can create challenging radio environments. Effective office Wi-Fi therefore needs to account for the surrounding RF environment as well as the size and layout of the premises.

Can Geekabit investigate our Wi-Fi without replacing our existing IT company?

Yes. Geekabit can work directly with businesses, internal IT teams and existing managed IT providers to investigate specialist Wi-Fi and networking problems. The objective is to identify the underlying cause, provide evidence and recommend appropriate improvements rather than requiring a business to replace its existing IT support provider.

When should we call a Wi-Fi specialist?

Consider specialist investigation when Wi-Fi problems persist despite having a reliable internet connection, when performance changes significantly around the building or during busy periods, or when previous attempts to fix the problem have been unsuccessful. A specialist assessment can also be valuable before an office move, refurbishment or significant wireless network upgrade.

How can we tell whether the problem is our broadband or our Wi-Fi?

Comparing wired and wireless performance is a useful starting point. If devices connected directly to the network perform well while wireless devices experience poor or inconsistent performance, the problem may be within the Wi-Fi network rather than the internet connection. A proper assessment can investigate the internet connection, wired infrastructure and wireless environment to locate the actual bottleneck.

Should Wi-Fi be planned before moving into a new London office?

Yes. Planning Wi-Fi before an office fit-out allows access point locations, network cabling and capacity requirements to be considered alongside the physical layout of the space. This can avoid access points being installed wherever cabling happens to be convenient and reduce the need for disruptive changes after staff have moved in.

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BroadbandFi for Country EstatesWi-FiWi-Fi For Country HomesWi-Fi for Larger Estates
A Comprehensive Guide to Wi-Fi For Country Homes

Do you struggle with Wi-Fi in your country home? Traditional country houses tend to have physical attributes that can hinder how effective your Wi-Fi functions. Things like thick walls, long driveways and poor rural broadband infrastructure can all impact the strength and stability of your internet connection. 

Thankfully, Geekabit can assist you with Wi-Fi solutions that can help ensure the wireless connection in your country home stays strong and reliable, without compromising on charm and character. 

In this comprehensive guide to Wi-Fi for country homes, we’ll take you through the potential issues you might be experiencing as well as the solutions Geekabit can offer to get your Wi-Fi operating at its full potential. 

1. Building Construction & RF Attenuation

Thick Walls & Heritage Materials

Stone walls, brick, flint, reinforced chimneys and historic construction materials dramatically reduce RF propagation (the behaviour of Radio Frequency between the transmitter and receiver).

Older properties like country homes often contain:

  • Lime plaster
  • Foil-backed insulation retrofits
  • Metal lath
  • Dense timber structures
  • Steel RSJs added during renovations

These materials can cause signal loss between rooms, which in some instances can be severe – Even over short distances.

Floor-to-Floor Propagation

It’s not all doom and gloom though! Traditional wooden floors may actually be a positive compared with more modern houses, allowing useful vertical propagation. Traditional wooden floors are highly transparent to Radio Frequency (RF) signals due to the wood being a non-metallic and porous material. This means it causes very little signal attenuation compared to materials like concrete, brick, or metal. 

Modern refurbishments often introduce steelwork and insulation which significantly alter RF behaviour.

Rooms and structures like basements and plant rooms frequently become RF dead zones. This is because they are built with dense, reinforced concrete and thick earth shielding that absorb or reflect wireless signals. These below-ground and utility spaces act as massive physical barriers, often creating a natural Faraday cage that blocks cellular and Wi-Fi transmissions. 

Listed Building Restrictions

Among traditionally constructed country homes built before 1919 (which represent about (20%) of all English housing), the percentage of listed buildings often exceeds 10 to 15% in highly rural, historic areas. 

The number of individual buildings or structures covered by a statutory listed building entry in the key geographic areas we cover here at Geekabit are:

  • Winchester: Approximately 3000 
  • London: Over 18,000
  • Cardiff: Approximately 1000

Is your country home one of them? 

Things related to wireless upgrades that Grade listed properties may restrict include:

  • Visible cabling
  • Drilling
  • External antennas
  • Ceiling-mounted equipment

Any network design on listed buildings must often prioritise discreet installation methods.

2. Estate-Wide Coverage Planning

Coverage Beyond the Main House

Areas to consider in large estates that require Wi-Fi access often include:

  • Main residence
  • Guest accommodation
  • Pool houses
  • Stables
  • Home offices
  • Security lodges
  • Garden offices
  • Outdoor entertaining areas
  • Tennis courts
  • Boathouses
  • Estate maintenance buildings

Outdoor Wi-Fi Design

Wi-Fi engineers designing for outdoor space in country homes need to consider:

  • Weatherproof APs
  • Directional coverage planning
  • Correct antenna selection
  • Lightning protection
  • Long-distance bridging where fibre is unavailable

Roaming Experience

As our clients, here at Geekabit we understand that you expect the following whilst roaming around your country property:

  • Seamless roaming during calls
  • Uninterrupted Zoom/Teams meetings
  • Smooth music streaming
  • Continuity while walking across grounds

To ensure this happens, fast roaming and proper cell sizing becomes critical.

3. Structured Cabling Infrastructure

Cabling is the Foundation

What is the most common root cause of Wi-Fi issues in large homes? It’s usually the cabling! Poor cabling in large country homes is often the root cause of Wi-Fi problems.  

Considerations when planning cabling infrastructure in country homes include:

  • Cat6/Cat6A standards compliance
  • Avoiding split pairs
  • Excessive untwisting
  • Poor terminations
  • Water ingress in external runs
  • Cable damage from rodents/building work

Fibre Optic Backbone

Why should country homes and larger estates consider Fibre Optic cables?

  • Fibre should often be considered between buildings
  • Prevents electrical grounding issues
  • Avoids distance limitations of copper
  • Provides future scalability

Cabinet & Rack Design

To help ensure the Wi-Fi cabling helps meet your large property’s full potential, you would benefit from:

  • Proper communications cabinets
  • UPS protection
  • Ventilation
  • Patch management
  • Labelled infrastructure
  • Environmental monitoring

Many large estates have organically grown networks with unmanaged switches hidden throughout buildings. Do you know where all yours are?

4. RF Design & Channel Planning

Co-Channel Interference (CCI)

Let’s take a look at the common issues with Co-Channel Interference and the problems they cause in large country estates. 

Common CCI issues faced in estates:

  • Too many APs added reactively over time
  • Mesh systems overlapping excessively
  • Multiple vendors operating together

These can cause the following problems:

  • Sticky clients
  • Retransmissions
  • Low throughput
  • Unstable roaming

Channel Width Management

When it comes to planning and managing Channel Width in large estates and country homes, 80MHz everywhere is rarely appropriate.

Proper 20MHz/40MHz planning often delivers better real-world performance for country home owners.

DFS (Dynamic Frequency Selection) Considerations

In Radio Frequency, DFS stands for Dynamic Frequency Selection. It is a regulatory mechanism that allows unlicensed devices – like your Wi-Fi router – to share the 5 GHz frequency band with higher-priority systems (such as weather, military, and airport radars) without causing electromagnetic interference. 

Country properties are frequently located near:

  • Weather radar
  • Military installations
  • Airports

DFS events can cause:

  • Unexpected channel changes
  • Temporary outages
  • Roaming instability

5. Wired Performance & Switching

Upgrading to a multi-gigabit network in large country homes requires robust physical infrastructure (Cat6a/ Cat7 cabling, fibre backbones) and managed multi-gig (2.5G/10G) switches. This ensures seamless high-bandwidth distribution for modern Wi-Fi 7 access points, media servers, and smart home arrays without bottlenecks.

Multigig Requirements

Modern estates increasingly contain:

  • Wi-Fi 6/ 6E/ 7 APs
  • Media servers
  • CCTV systems
  • Smart home systems
  • AV distribution
  • PoE lighting
  • EV charging infrastructure

Switching infrastructure must support:

  • PoE budgeting
  • Multigig uplinks
  • VLAN segmentation
  • Redundancy

Network Segmentation

Setting up separate VLANs (Virtual Local Area Networks) in a country home is a highly effective way to secure your network, optimize performance, and manage the growing number of smart devices in large properties. 

Separate VLANs may be required for:

  • Family devices
  • Guest Wi-Fi
  • Smart home devices
  • CCTV/ security
  • Estate management
  • Contractors
  • VoIP
  • Automation systems

6. Smart Home & AV Integration

Smart home and AV integration for country properties requires specialized design to handle larger footprints, expansive grounds, and often period architecture. The goal is to unify robust Wi-Fi, entertainment, lighting, and security into a single, intuitive control system without disrupting the aesthetic.

Integration Complexity

Country homes frequently include:

  • Crestron
  • Control4
  • Lutron
  • Sonos
  • KNX
  • CCTV
  • Gate systems
  • HVAC controls
  • Irrigation systems

Many issues blamed on bad Wi-Fi in country homes are actually:

  • Multicast problems
  • Poor switching
  • Consumer-grade routers
  • Bad DHCP design
  • Broadcast storms

IoT Device Density

Let’s not forget that large estates may contain hundreds of connected devices. This changes:

  • Airtime utilisation
  • Multicast behaviour
  • DHCP scope planning
  • Roaming design

7. Internet Connectivity & Resilience

Rural Connectivity Constraints

Country homes and larger estates are often in rural areas, which brings its own complications for Wi-Fi. 

Country homes often suffer from:

  • Poor FTTP (Fibre to the Premises) availability
  • Long copper runs
  • Unstable broadband
  • Limited mobile coverage

Solutions to these problems may include:

  • Starlink
  • Leased lines
  • 4G/5G failover
  • Bonded WAN
  • SD-WAN

High Availability

Here at Geekabit, our Wi-Fi expert understand that our clients increasingly expect:

  • Automatic failover
  • Resilient networking
  • UPS-backed infrastructure
  • Remote support capability

8. Aesthetics & Discreet Installation

At Geekabit, we might be Wi-Fi engineers by trade but we also understand how much our clients care about the aesthetics of their home and need their Wi-Fi to fit in with the character and charm of their country home both inside and outside – without compromising on Wi-Fi strength and reliability. 

Visual Impact of Wi-Fi Deployment on Country Homes

We know that our high-end residential clients care deeply about aesthetics.

With every Wi-Fi deployment in larger estates we consider:

  • AP placement symmetry
  • Paintable enclosures
  • Hidden mounting
  • Ceiling integration
  • Avoiding visible trunking

Coordination With Interior Design

We recognise that successful Wi-Fi projects often involve coordination with:

  • Architects
  • Interior designers
  • Builders
  • AV contractors
  • Electricians

9. Security & Estate Operations

Security for country homes and larger estates is vital, hence the need for robust Wi-Fi functionality across the entire estate. 

Cybersecurity

Unfortunately, high-value residential properties are increasingly targeted by criminals. To help keep a country home and large estate secure with wireless technology enhancements, you should consider:

  • Secure remote access
  • VPN management
  • MFA
  • Segmented IoT
  • Monitoring
  • Firmware lifecycle management

CCTV & Estate Security Systems

Bandwidth and switching requirements can become significant when the following systems and hardware are involved:

  • Multiple high-resolution cameras
  • ANPR systems
  • Remote viewing
  • Gate intercoms
  • Thermal cameras

10. Surveying & Documentation

Professional Site Surveys

When planning Wi-Fi installations and deployments, large properties benefit enormously from:

  • Predictive modelling
  • Passive surveys
  • Active surveys
  • Spectrum analysis
  • Cable certification

Ongoing Documentation

Estate networks evolve constantly. Documentation should include:

  • Floor plans
  • AP locations
  • Switch schedules
  • Fibre routes
  • VLAN plans
  • IP addressing
  • Rack layouts

What are the most common Wi-Fi problems seen in country homes?

Some of the most common Wi-Fi issues we see in country homes and larger estates include:

  • Mesh systems deployed where structured cabling was required
  • Multiple generations of networking equipment added over time
  • Consumer-grade equipment in enterprise-scale environments
  • Poor roaming between wings/buildings
  • APs hidden inside cupboards or utility spaces
  • Cabling failures causing intermittent speed negotiation issues
  • Outdoor areas with no usable coverage
  • Smart home instability blamed on broadband provider
  • No network segmentation or security separation
  • No documentation of infrastructure

These are all things to consider when planning and deploying a new Wi-Fi network for your country home. 

What can Geekabit help offer you to solve these Wi-Fi problems in your country home?

Our experienced, expert Wi-Fi engineers at Geekabit are ready to help plan and deploy the new Wi-Fi network for your country home. We are skilled at covering larger estates and offer the following services:

  • Wi-Fi master planning for renovations
  • Estate fibre backbone design
  • Pre-build cabling consultancy
  • Smart home network consultancy
  • Spectrum analysis & interference investigations
  • Remote monitoring & support
  • Annual estate network health checks
  • Outdoor estate coverage design
  • Temporary event Wi-Fi for estate functions
  • Secure guest Wi-Fi platforms
  • Network resilience & failover design

Get in touch with us today. Our expert Wi-Fi engineers cover Winchester and the South Coast, London and Cardiff.

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BroadbandBusiness Wi-FiConnectivityHampshireInternetNetworkWi-FiWi-Fi AdviceWireless NetworkWireless TechnologyWLAN
Could Technical Jargon Be Confusing Consumers When It Comes to Buying Internet Services?

What do you call the network in your household or business? 

Are there shrieks of ‘Muuuum is the Wi-Fi down?’ or perhaps partners asking ‘What’s going on with the broadband babe?’ 

Or if you’re the boss of a SME, maybe you’ve got employees interrupting your meetings asking why the internet is lagging. 

What’s the most popular name for internet connections? 

Broadband Internet Service Provider TalkTalk engaged Axicom to commission a new online survey of 2,000 UK adults, conducted by OnePoll. The survey claims to find that the most popular name for home internet connections is Wi-Fi. 

A third of respondents said they describe their internet connection using the term Wi-Fi, with ‘broadband’ and ‘internet’ coming in second and third place respectively. 

The survey also quizzed respondents on their understanding of different wireless technology terms, with 76% of those asked saying they ‘confidently understand’ the term Wi-Fi. 

Less confidently understood was ‘fibre’ with only half of the respondents confident with their understanding of its meaning. Interestingly, ‘fibre’ is often a term flung around by telecoms companies to describe their broadband products and services, which begs the question – Do consumers actually understand what they are being sold? 

Do Consumers Understand the Internet Products and Services Being Sold to Them?

The results to this particular survey would suggest the answer is unfortunately no, with 69% of respondents admitting that technology-related jargon is difficult to understand. 

Perhaps then, the aim of this most recent online survey was to gather information on how ISP TalkTalk can market their products and internet services to potential customers – Both business and residential. 

If consumers are not understanding terms like ‘fibre’ then perhaps the focus on the term ‘Wi-Fi’ instead will increase understanding and thus sales. It does seem to be the renewed focus of their recent brand refresh, despite the technical terminology not being entirely correct. 

Does this therefore reinforce a misconception around the understanding of technical internet terminology, rather than provide an accurate explanation? 

What is your understanding of some of the terms used in the survey? You can see a breakdown of the most understood terminology below, given in percentages. 

There seems to be a healthy understanding of the terms Wi-Fi, Wireless, Router and IP Address. Those less understood were concepts like Latency, FTTP/FTTC, Mesh, PSTN and LLU. 

What Do TalkTalk Have to Say?

The Product and Propositions Director for TalkTalk shared the companies thoughts on their recent survey and how the results are influencing how they talk to their customers in order to ensure the best understanding of their services and products. 

“Wi-Fi is a staple in all our homes, yet as an industry we haven’t kept up with the times when we talk to our customers. At TalkTalk, we’re shifting to talk about Wi-Fi more and more, as it’s the connectivity – making sure streaming or browsing is seamless – that matters most for our millions of customers.

Our latest research tells us that people prefer to communicate in the same way that they speak, without jargon, and our industry should reflect that. We know we’re not perfect, and we have much to do, but this is the first step in delivering a Better Way to Wi-Fi for customers who just want transparency and information they can confidently understand. And this builds trust between us and our customers too.”

What Does Wi-Fi Mean to You?

Whilst the term Wi-Fi might still feel like technical jargon to some, most homes and businesses use Wi-Fi to describe a WLAN, or Wireless Local Area Network connection that originates from a router that distributes the broadband internet connection from your Internet Service Provider. 

Wi-Fi and Broadband are not the same thing, but consumers seem to be regularly using the term ‘Wi-Fi’ to loosely apply to their wireless internet connection as a whole. 

When this starts to run into difficulties is when an issue arises. Someone shouts ‘The Wi-Fi’s gone down!’ – What’s the problem? It could be that the router is faulty and not transmitting a signal to user devices. In this instance, the actual broadband connection coming from outside the property could be completely fine – It’s only the transmission of the signal that has the issue. 

Likewise, the router could be transmitting a signal to end users and their devices remain connected, but conference calls aren’t connecting. The problem isn’t the hardware, but the actual broadband connection coming from the ISP. 

2 very different problems but both labelled as a ‘Wi-Fi’ problem.

Do You Get Lost in Technical Internet Jargon? 

If you need reliable Wi-Fi for your business but find it hard to follow all the terminology, then don’t worry. Not everyone can be Wi-Fi Experts! Thankfully the wireless engineers here at Geekabit have all the knowledge and expertise needed to navigate your network and get you the best wireless connection for your premises. 

Get in touch with our Hampshire, Cardiff or London based teams today to see how we can help. 

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Broadband Verification Scheme Launched by Ookla

Have you ever arrived at a conference, sporting event or hotel only to be greeted by a frustratingly slow internet connection? Whether you are trying to access work emails, share a clip of an amazing goal or just laze in your room binge watching your favourite show on your smartphone, we’ve all felt that frustration at a sinfully slow connection. 

If only you could check a venue’s connection quality before you book…

Ookla, a network testing business which collects consumer data through their popular broadband testing service Speedtest.net, launched a new Speedtest Certified™ scheme last week. 

The thinking behind this new scheme is to be able to offer people and businesses verification on ‘superior connectivity.’ Think places like hotels, stadiums, event venues, office buildings, and airports. 

As a consumer, you want to know these venues are going to be able to offer an excellent connection while you are visiting. As a business, you want to be able to offer verification of that excellent connection before they’ve even arrived. 

How Can You Prove to Customers that Your Business Offers Superior Connectivity?

As a business owner, you may be one of the many properties identified by Ookla who are keen to prove their connectivity to their potential customers, demonstrating their readiness to meet everyone’s connectivity expectations and needs. 

This new service from Ookla, Speedtest Certified™, is designed to give businesses the proof they need.

The newly launched program aims to provide a “trusted badge of excellence“ to venues like hotels, stadiums, airports, event venues and office buildings. Based on Ookla’s globally recognised reputation for mobile and broadband performance measurements, this verification of excellent broadband and connectivity will help businesses to differentiate themselves from competitors and show how committed they are to aiding their customers’ digital experiences. 

How Will Speedtest Certified™ from Ookla Deliver This Verification Scheme?

The entire approach will be data-driven, enabling the provision of comprehensive and objective assessment of a venues network. The following key variables will be measured:

  • The quality of Wi-Fi radio frequency (RF) 
  • Wi-Fi network configuration
  • Wi-Fi network security assessment
  • Network performance metrics
  • ISP backhaul

If you’ve trusted Ookla’s popular Speedtest platform to manage your own connectivity, then you’ll likely be excited at the prospect of knowing just how good the internet connection will be, BEFORE you arrive at an event or hotel. In the words of Stephen Bye (President and CEO of Ookla, Ziff Davis Division) the new Speedtest Certified™ scheme will give you ‘a seal of approval you can count on’ when it comes to reliable connectivity. 

5 Star Rating for Internet Speed

Properties that meet or exceed the rigorous standards of Ookla’s Speedtest Certified™ will earn themselves a high-value certification backed by the trusted Speedtest name. This trusted Badge of Excellence will give them a star rating out of 5 for speed and will be valid for 1 year, after which the venue must be re-certified to ensure they still meet the necessary connectivity standards to keep that status. 

Not only will they be able to share their Speedtest badge of honour for superior connectivity, businesses will also have access to Ookla’s Speedtest Certified Digital Platform. Here they will be able to:

  • Access personal insights
  • Benchmark performance against other Speedtest Certified Networks
  • Receive targeted recommendations for improvements

Can We Expect the Same for Mobile Connectivity?

The initial Phase One launch is aimed at Wi-Fi connectivity and performance inside properties such as the ones mentioned above. 

Phase Two of this programme will look at assessing cellular performance testing in terms of 4G/5G mobile. It’s likely we’ll see this rolled out in the coming months. 

What if Your Business Wi-Fi Isn’t Up To Standard?

This new Speedtest Certified™ scheme launched by Ookla is great – If your business or event venue has the superior connectivity that the standards insist upon. 

What if your internet speed star rating falls short and your venue’s connectivity doesn’t meet the required standards? 

There is always something that can be done to improve your Wi-Fi network and connectivity for customers. 

If your business struggles with slow Wi-Fi, an unreliable connection or any other Wi-Fi issues, then our Wi-Fi Experts here at Geekabit can help. 

Whilst you’re probably tearing your hair out with frustration, we actually love Wi-Fi problems like slow speeds, Wi-Fi dead spots or users unable to connect – Because we know what a huge difference we will be able to make to you and your business. 

Using globally renowned specialist measuring and testing equipment, we can get to the root of the problem. Though Wi-Fi Site Surveys, Planning & Design and Wi-Fi Installation we can get your business’ connectivity working just as it should be. 

We’ve helped hotels, warehouses, corporate offices and stadiums to name just a few. We can also help with event Wi-Fi! 

So don’t put up with dodgy Wi-Fi any longer – It’s time to call in the experts. Contact Geekabit today. 

Imagery used with thanks from https://www.ookla.com/speedtest-certified

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Broadband Performance: A Must-Have for Estate Agents to Showcase Dream Properties

A recent survey highlights the critical importance for estate agents to offer broadband performance reports when marketing properties, particularly “dream property” offerings.

Recent research suggests that Estate Agents should be focusing on providing home buyers with broadband performance reports if they want to meet the criteria of buyers dream homes. 

The top ranked factor for the ‘dream home’ wish list when looking for a new property was reliable internet.

UK based platform Compare My Move assists home buyers, sellers, landlords and movers with the whole property buying process. They commissioned research with Front Door Comms and OnePoll, creating an online survey of 2,000 adults based in the UK, naturally representative of age, gender and region. 

62% Brits Looking for Decent Wi-Fi When Looking at a Potential New Property

The survey found that 62% of survey respondents put decent Wi-Fi as the number one feature they would want in their realistic dream property. Strong Wi-Fi came above a private driveway and a walk-in wardrobe. 

This would appear to highlight a shift away from fancy frills, instead favouring functional living and everyday essentials when looking for a new property. 

If you’ve ever had your internet go down for a significant length of time then you’ll know how much you rely on that connection. From the obvious things like logging onto your laptop to work from home, to the more taken for granted things like asking Alexa for a timer whilst cooking dinner or trying to listen to music – Having no Wi-Fi is excruciatingly frustrating. 

Since the pandemic when the UK was plunged into the world of working from home and home learning, Estate Agents have seen a dramatic increase in questions about reliable broadband when prospective buyers are looking at new property. 

So it’s little wonder that prospective home buyers want to know exactly what kind of broadband connection they could expect from a potential new home – And if Estate Agents want to make a sale, and Estate Managers want to find a tenant then they need to be providing information that shows the available broadband for that property. 

Reliable Broadband for High End Estate Agency

High End Estate Agents aren’t just matching High Net Worth Individuals with their latest luxury home – They need to give their buyers confidence that they will be moving into a well connected home with strong, reliable broadband. 

Co-founder and MD of Compare My Move says it himself – The results show that “people are prioritising convenience, comfort, and connectivity in their everyday lives. While high-end extras might look impressive on paper, it’s the things we rely on daily – like Wi-Fi and a driveway – that really make a place feel like home.”

And thus, this needs to be reflected in the way that Estate Agents (including High End) and Estate Managers are marketing their properties. 

Is Slow Internet the Dealbreaker That’s Losing You House Sales?

The survey reported above supports previous research from a few years ago when it was found that 20% of people would not buy a property if it had slow internet speeds. 

Similarly, the lack of super-fast internet is often a deal-breaker when it comes to house hunting with many prospective buyers viewing the Wi-Fi connection more important than the number of bedrooms. 

Whilst the size of a property is still important, Estate Agents must now recognise that for many house hunters the quality and speed of the internet is now on par with other deemed essentials. In Scotland and the Southwest, some prospective house buyers value the availability of high-quality broadband above everything else – Even house size. 

Estate Agency and Estate Management clients are least likely to compromise on high-quality broadband when looking for a new home. Decent Wi-Fi was deemed more important than local amenities and space. 

In addition to this, homes for sale that had a worse connection could see Estate Agents selling at approximately £5K less, based solely on whether a home had access to a 300Mbps connection or not. 

How Many Homes Have Access to Full Fibre? 

According to Ofcom, 20.7 million UK homes, or 69% of the total, have access to full-fibre broadband. This represents a significant increase from 17.1 million homes (57%) in September 2023. 

Specifically, Ofcom’s Connected Nations report in July 2024 showed that:

  • Full-fibre coverage has expanded to 69% (20.7 million) of the UK’s 30.1 million homes. 
  • This is an increase of 12 percentage points (3.6 million premises) since September 2023. 
  • Full fibre is more prevalent in urban areas (71%) than in rural areas (52%). 
  • Gigabit-capable coverage, including full fibre and hybrid fibre coaxial (HFC) cable, has reached 83% (25 million) of UK homes. 
  • Northern Ireland leads the way with 93% of homes having access to full fibre. 

SpeedScore from Geekabit Wi-Fi Experts

With over a decade of experience providing connectivity solutions to UK markets, Geekabit saw how house buyers, tenants and hospitality customers are getting more tech savvy and starting to ask Estate Agents and Estate Managers questions about internet speeds and reliability.

Thus, we launched our innovative Internet Connectivity Measurement Platform – Geekabit SpeedScore. 

This gives Estate Agents and Estate Managers a variety of tools to help provide an independent certification of internet speeds and connectivity. Ideal if you’re trying to make a sale by proving the speed and connectivity of a property’s internet. 

Whether it’s a high end luxury property or the dream home of the average buyer, a clear, concise and accurate presentation of a property’s broadband could be the leverage to close that sale. 

You can read more about SpeedScore here. 

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Does Summer Heat Affect Your Wi-Fi? Your FAQ’s Answered

We’ve been enjoying much sunshine here in the South of the UK these last few weeks, complete with a mini heatwave back in April. Around that time some delightful media outlets were circulating articles, scaring internet users into thinking that the higher-than-usual temperatures were going to wipe out their Wi-Fi and block their broadband. So is this fact or fiction?

Despite the odd Spring rain shower here and there, we’re set for more warm weather over the next fortnight, so we thought it as good a time as any to set the record straight about Wi-Fi in hot weather and hopefully put your minds at rest by answering your frequently asked questions.  

“Will my broadband stop working in hot weather?”

The simplest answer is no. Hot weather is unlikely to disrupt your internet connection if you are exercising some common sense that you would extend to all electrical devices. In other words, if you keep your router out of direct sunlight then you’re not likely to run into heat-related problems. 

“Has a heatwave ever caused a Wi-Fi outage?”

Technically, the answer is still no. However due to an unprecedented and extreme (albeit brief) heatwave back in July 2022 where UK temperatures soared to 40 degrees for the first time, internet service providers did take measures to protect broadband cabinets. 

Over the course of 4 days, 2 of which recorded extreme temperatures, some ISP’s re-deployed engineers to monitor the cabinets and keep them as cool as possible. Hilariously, this included sheltering them from the sun with umbrellas and leaving the doors open to increase air flow. This novel approach in such unprecedented heat appeared to work, with no reported outages across various network providers.

“Can routers and other internet hardware overheat?” 

As we’re sure you are aware, most electronic devices emit at least a small amount of heat, and that includes your router. This means that theoretically, it is possible that your router could overheat in high temperatures. 

Thankfully, most manufacturers of said hardware take this into consideration when designing their devices, meaning that most are able to operate at temperatures of up to approximately 40 degrees (check with your manufacturer for specifics). 

There is a chance that devices and hardware could continue to function in temperatures exceeding their stated tolerance, but that is of course dependent on individual experience and will vary between manufacturers.

Let’s not forget that our broadband router isn’t the only device or piece of hardware that could struggle in high temperatures. Smartphones, tablets, laptops and other electronic devices could also experience problems if we were to experience a heatwave. 

“What happens if a router overheats?”

If a router becomes close to overheating or does indeed overheat, the first thing to happen will be an attempt to lower the heat output to protect itself from damage. This will likely lead to a degradation in performance instigated by the device’s processor and affect response times on the device’s user interface. This would likely then impact your LAN in terms of connection stability and Wi-Fi speed.

Most electronic devices, including routers, will restart themselves if they get too hot. Despite potentially causing your connection to drop, this should resolve itself quite quickly and cause minimal problems once it’s back online. 

Complete hardware failure due to overheating is rare, and certainly not something we would expect to see in temperatures sitting in the mid-twenties. We’ll check back in in July if we’re approaching 40 degrees again.  

Keep Your Connection Cool This Summer By Following These Warm Weather Wi-Fi Tips

Hopefully you are already in the Common Sense Club where you keep electricals out of direct sunlight and away from other sources of heat. Keep doing what you’re doing! 

Here are a few other tips to keep your Wi-Fi from wilting in the warmer weather.

  • Choose the coolest room possible to place your router. This is usually a room downstairs and with thick external walls. Of course, the coolest place in the house may not be the most conducive to a reliable, strong connection throughout your home so you will have to weigh up the pros and cons.
  • Locate your router on a surface that enables good air flow and the ability for heat to escape. Wall-mounted can be a great option, although do bear in mind whether the wall is south facing and radiating absorbed heat from outside.
  • If we were to experience a heatwave similar to the one in 2022, then purchasing a cooling mat for your router could be a useful option. An similar alternative would be to point a standard fan in the direction of the router to keep the air as cool as possible and improve air flow around the device.
  • Did you know that you can disable non-critical router services? If not then perhaps it’s best you don’t try. If yes and we’ve just reminded you, then you could try lessening the load, thus reducing heat output and hopefully increasing functionality in extreme hot weather.
  • If your router is overheating due to indoor temperatures and you don’t actually need it to be switched on, then consider turning it off for a while to cool down. We do not recommend doing this often (not more than once in a day) and especially not if you are on an DSL/ ADSL/ FTTC connection.
  • In general, older devices are less tolerant to heat and are more likely to overheat. It could be worth considering replacing an old router for a newer model if you encounter persistent connection problems in hotter weather. 

If the temperature outside is pushing 40 degrees like July 2022, then it’s likely you’ll be hanging out by the fridge door and/or dousing yourself in ice water. These might cool you down but are definitely not recommended for your router unfortunately. 

If your house is 40+ degrees and your router is struggling to function then it might be time to step away from the internet and go outside to find a shady spot with as much breeze as possible. 

But for the time being, let’s enjoy these comfortably warm mid-twenty days with a strong, steady Wi-Fi connection in one hand and a cold beer in the other.

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Starlink Reach 4.6 Million Users Worldwide

Over the last 7 months, the Starlink satellite broadband service from SpaceX has amassed a whopping total of 4.6 million users globally. The recent rapid growth of an additional 1.6 million users in less than a year serves as a significant milestone for the company which now encompasses 118 countries and territories across the world. 

Why has Starlink seen such rapid growth recently? 

Starlink reported 3 million satellite broadband users back in May 2024. In the 7 months since, the company has supported its growth by focusing on expanding its services, with the introduction of 27 new markets activating Starlink connectivity. 

Back in April, we blogged about Starlink expanding their broadband capacity here in the UK by increasing the number of gateway antennas at multiple UK sites and by adopting additional bands. 

This was followed just a few months later with the launch of their mini dish and roaming service, also available here in the UK. 

With new markets and growing connectivity to support, Starlink needed to ensure they have the infrastructure to support this connectivity. So they launched 89 new satellites into their ever-increasing constellation. 

There are currently over 7000 active Starlink satellites in Low Earth Orbit (LEO). These include 350 satellites that are designed to directly connect with LTE phones. 

Their commitment to the necessary infrastructure means that Starlink can provide reliable, high-speed internet access even in some of the most remote, hard to reach areas.  

What is Starlink planning next?

Next on the cards for Starlink is the SpaceX launch of its third generation (V3) Starlink satellites. These are due to be launched by SpaceX’s upcoming launch vehicle, Starship.  

Each launch of a new V3 satellite is estimated to add 60 terabits (Tbps) of capacity to the Starlink network. This would significantly outpace the 3 Tbps capacity provided by SpaceX Falcon 9 launches. 

Despite the Starship launch vehicle still undergoing tests in the development stages, it is widely expected to revolutionise satellite deployment. Starship will enable SpaceX to deploy more advanced satellites, providing a larger payload capacity. This in turn means a 10 fold increase in bandwidth and reduced latency for Starlink satellite broadband users. 

Why does it matter about Starlink?

Through the growth of Starlink, especially the rapid growth we’ve seen recently over the past 7 months, we see the potential to reshape internet connectivity on a global scale. Starlink achieved cash-flow breakeven by the end of 2023, showing the world the increasing profitability of satellite broadband. 

It is the belief of Gwynne Shotwell, COO at SpaceX, that the introduction of the new launch vehicle Starship will “position SpaceX as one of the world’s most valuable companies.”

Starlink appears to be going from strength to strength, providing a much needed digital bridge to those in remote, underserved locations and communities. Not only do they deliver a high-speed internet connection to those who otherwise struggle to access broadband, but they are also making it affordable.

The V3 satellites set to launch with the emergence of Starship will likely see Starlink become even more of a fundamental part of connectivity across the globe. 

Fast Wi-Fi Hire for Events with Starlink via Geekabit

If you’re looking to hire Starlink Internet for your next event, we can provide a managed expert service.

Have you been let down before by traditional internet suppliers? Our expertly managed Wi-Fi hire service will allow you to have a fast, stable and speedy Wi-Fi network in areas that other suppliers have previously struggled. 

Our Starlink event kit for Wi-Fi hire can be deployed very quickly for even the most last-minute of events, especially helpful in situations where you’ve been let down by another provider. 

Our fleet of Starlink routers and dishes are available to support any event where resilient and fast internet needs to be deployed at short notice. If your event is being held in London, Hampshire, Sussex, Dorset or Wiltshire and you’re interested in reliable event internet then get in touch with our Wi-Fi experts today.  You can find out more here. 

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How Does Your Broadband ISP Rank by Quality and Speed? 

Internet benchmarking firm Opensignal, the internet benchmarking firm, has published their “definitive” 2024 Fixed Broadband Experience report this December. The report looks at various UK internet service providers and then separately across 12 of its regions (inc. Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland), judging them in terms of performance indicators.

With people all over the country potentially relying on a strong, reliable broadband service to connect with family and friends this Christmas – Which broadband provider came out on top for 2024? This latest Opensignal report found Virgin Media to have the top performance scores on a national level. 

However, when looking at individual regions, the results differed.

How do Opensignal collect their performance data?

The data used in December’s Opensignal round-up of 2024 report uses crowdsourced data collected via their benchmarking app and services by end-users. It was collected between the 1st July and 28th September 2024. 

It’s worth noting that the following things could also affect any testing of broadband performance:

  • Poor home wiring (ADSL and FTTC lines)
  • The end-user’s choice of package (e.g. 1Gbps could be available, but people may pick a slower option)
  • Local network congestion 
  • Slow home Wi-Fi 

Interestingly, the report also includes data from some mobile broadband providers and satellite broadband services, providing notable comparisons between the more traditional broadband providers and the alternatives for places where they don’t work so well. For example, the report has data from users utilising Three UK and Starlink mobile and satellite broadband services. 

How does the Opensignal report on UK broadband categorise user experiences? 

The report categorises user experience of broadband performance based on different measurements:

  • Consistent Quality
  • Download Speed
  • Upload Speed
  • Video Experience 
  • Reliability Experience

Which ISP’s have provided the best broadband this year?

As we said at the start of this article, Virgin Media came top overall, rating the best user experiences across all 5 of the above categories. 

In simple terms, out of all of the UK’s broadband providers, users with Virgin Media during the last quarter of 2024 had:

  • The best available experience when streaming video
  • The fastest average download and upload speeds
  • The most reliable connection
  • The most consistent fixed broadband experience

If we take a look at 2 of the categories that are perhaps most of interest – Consistent Quality and Download Speeds – We can compare and rank the UK ISP’s. 

Consistent Quality
Virgin Media90.4
Vodafone88.4
Plusnet87.1
BT86.6
EE83.1
TalkTalk82.6
Sky Broadband76.9
Three UK72.3
Download Speeds Mbps
Virgin Media157.4
Vodafone77.5
BT62
Three UK54.8
Sky Broadband52.5
Plusnet52.4
TalkTalk48.8
EE45.9

It’s worth pointing out that almost all of the customer base of Virgin Media are in urban areas and are on broadband lines of 100Mbps or faster, which helps massively in this type of study. 

At the opposite end of this, providers that have connections from varied broadband technologies (ADSL, FTTC, FTTP) with a mixture of slower and faster lines are going to be at a bit of a disadvantage. 

What do Virgin Media have to say about being awarded ‘best’ ISP for 2024 by Opensignal? 

Their Director of Connectivity, Gareth Lister, said:

“We’re committed to providing our customers with fast and reliable connectivity, so being recognised by Opensignal as the best performing provider across all five categories is fantastic news. It is testament to our ongoing investment and hard work to give our customers the best broadband experience possible.”

Regional data shows smaller ISP success

When looking at the data with a more regional focus, we start to see more of the smaller UK internet service providers and alternative networks securing wins across the different categories we mentioned earlier. 

Networks like:

For the London area, CommunityFibre is a strong choice for consistent fixed broadband experience. Up in Scotland, the winner of the most performance categories was Hyperoptic broadband. And in the north of England it’s YouFibre that outperforms the other ISP’s. For Wales and Northern Ireland, Virgin Media were once again the most awarded provider. 

As much as we would love to lay out all the results by region for you here, it would take us all day! But you can have a read of the full report here, where you can check out your local region and see which broadband providers are successful in your area. 

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Are You Paying for Broadband Speeds You Don’t Actually Need? 

According to GoCompare, you could be one of 9.5 million UK homes that are paying for broadband speeds you don’t even need. 

34% Paying for Broadband Speeds They Don’t Need

Comparison website Go.Compare have recently shared a new survey where data gathered from YouGov and some other sources claim to show that 34% of respondents are paying for broadband speeds that they don’t actually need. This equates to 9.5 million households, with an estimated £53 million spent each month on “unused speeds” – That’s £637 million per year!). 

These findings appear to show that most British households are paying for some of the fastest broadband speeds. 34% have speeds exceeding 150 Mbps, when only 21% of internet users actually need broadband as fast as this. 

27% are paying for broadband speeds of between 51 and 100 Mbps, when actually only 12% of internet users are thought to need speeds in this range. 

On the other end of the scale, only 3% are settling for the slowest speeds of 15 Mbps or less, but for 13% of users this would actually be enough. 

So how much are people overpaying by? 

Go.Compare suggests that those who are indeed overpaying on their broadband speeds, are spending an average of £5.58 more per month on their broadband than they really need to. Over the course of a year, that’s £66.96 wasted. That’s enough to cover a standard Netflix subscription, or buy the family a couple more Christmas presents!

Users on that lower end of the scale, who are only needing 15 Mbps, tend to be the ones that are overpaying the most (only 4% of those that need just 15 Mbps are actually only paying for the amount). 

1 in 10 of these particular users said that they pay for some of the fastest speeds at over 150 Mbps – Even though their usage would be fine on the slowest offerings. In these cases, the over-spending a month is around £9 – That’s a waste of £113 per year!

What are these findings based on?

To be able to estimate the number of Brits supposedly overpaying for their broadband speeds, Go.Compare first needed to identify the speeds needed by different groups of internet users. They did this using a YouGov survey. 

To identify these groups, respondents were asked what they used their broadband for and how many people were in the household. These responses were then compared to the internet speeds required to meet these needs. 

The data for this isn’t something we ourselves can see, so we can’t actually check it. 

Each of these groups were then asked what internet speeds they were paying for, to enable them to identify how many of the respondents were overpaying for their broadband. 

This number was then applied to the overall number of broadband users in the survey to estimate the percentage of broadband users overpaying. This percentage was then applied to the estimated number of UK households using broadband to estimate the number of households overpaying.

Are there problems with the approach used to reach these findings?

There are a couple of issues which could potentially affect the reliability of these findings. 

85% of UK home premises are now within reach of a gigabit-capable broadband network. The entry level speeds for these are approximately 100 Mbps. There are slower options available, but these are usually in non-FTTP areas. The price difference is often small, and copper-based packages like FTTC or ADSL2+ aren’t vastly cheaper. 

Now let’s talk about how we define ‘need.’ On a day to day basis, you might not necessarily need a 500 Mbps+ download or upload speed. However, one day it snows and you can’t get to work so you’re working remotely and now need to transfer a large backup file. Or perhaps a new video game is released and your teenager absolutely must have it now, within seconds, or minutes maximum!! Not a slow download over many hours. Suddenly, the prospect of getting these things done quickly holds a lot of value. So whilst on a general day-to-day basis you could very well get by on a slower broadband speed, a faster one could come in very handy every now and then, potentially making the cost of that faster connection worthwhile. 

So perhaps paying for that faster speed wouldn’t necessarily be viewed as overpaying – But ensuring you have a reliable, better quality broadband delivered to home if and when you need it most. 

What do you think? 

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Is Your Broadband Router Open to Hackers? Survey Says Yes 

Broadband Genie, the independent UK comparison service for telecoms and broadband, have published a new survey revealing some pretty shocking statistics when it comes to internet safety. 

3,045 internet users were surveyed between the 1st January and 26th April this year, revealing that:

  • 89% of respondents have never updated the firmware of their home router 
  • 86% have never changed the device’s administrator password 
  • 72% have never changed their Wi-Fi password
  • 75% have never checked to see what or who is linked to their router
  • 52% have never changed or updated their routers settings

Are you guilty of any of these? No shaming from us, but let’s take a little look at why ignoring these things when it comes to your router and security isn’t a great idea. 

Why should I change my router from the default password? 

If you leave your router set to the default password, it could allow hackers to identify which make and model of router you are using and work out the password.

Thankfully, many ISP’s supply long, randomised passwords with no real structure, making it harder to identify.  

Do I need to update firmware on my router? 

Many routers that come as part of a bundle directly from your ISP are thankfully set up to auto-update their firmware – Meaning you, the customer, don’t have to actually do any specific actions in order to keep your device up-to-date. 

However, it’s probably a good idea to check with your broadband provider to confirm this is the case.

And don’t forget, many security and firmware updates are done at night – So don’t switch your router off overnight. 

If you have purchased your router separately from an ISP bundle, then you may be required to carry out this action yourself to check for recent firmware updates. Remember that not all firmware updates are particularly accessible or easy to find, so you may need to seek support from the manufacturer. 

It’s vital not to leave security vulnerabilities unpatched – And even some relatively modern pieces of kit could be susceptible to security risks. 

What’s the reason behind people not changing their router password?

The survey respondents who had answered that they had never changed their router’s factory settings were then asked why they had not. The answer that 75% of those surveyed gave was that they didn’t know they needed to change it. 

Your router is the single most important security device in your home network

It’s often the case that the router is the most important device in your home network when it comes to internet security. 

Changing your router’s password from the default to a strong alternative protects your network, particularly if the password from your ISP is not properly randomised or ineffective. 

It’s a good rule of thumb to assume that your router does not come secure out of the box. And if consumers are unaware of the risks, then clearly more awareness needs to be raised surrounding these security risks. 

That’s where the Product Security and Telecommunications Infrastructure Act comes in. 

The Product Security and Telecommunications Infrastructure Act

On the 29th April 2024, the Government brought in the Product Security and Telecommunications Infrastructure Act. This includes their new Secure by Design policy, which means that device makers (retailers and manufacturers) that fail to comply can be hit with financial penalties. 

Changes include:

  • The banning of easily guessable default passwords (like ‘admin’ or ‘12345’) so that vulnerabilities and hacking are prevented
  • The prompting of users to change the default password
  • Improved support for security issues by supplying contact details of manufacturers so that bugs and issues can be dealt with 
  • The requirement to state how long related network products will be supported by security patches (firmware updates)

These changes don’t just apply to routers – They also cover smartphones, televisions, games consoles, internet-connected fridges and other smart home devices such as doorbells etc. 

Are you confident that your router is secure? 

by admin
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